"Bielfeld must also take part in this illumination," said the
prince, turning to his wife, and calling the former, he proposed to
drink with him the health of his fiancee, whom he had left in
Hamburg.
After Bielfeld had left his seat and was advancing toward the prince
royal, the princess hurriedly and noiselessly gave her instructions
to a servant. She had observed that Bielfeld had been drinking
freely of the cold water which had been placed before him in a
decanter. The servant emptied this decanter and filled it with
sillery, which was as clear and limpid as water. Bielfeld returning
to his seat, heated by the toast he had been drinking, filled his
glass to the brim, and drank instead of water the fiery sillery.
[Footnote: Bielfeld, vol. i., page 85.]
The princess royal, whose aim was to discover which of the ladies
was the bewitching Leontine, determined to strike a decisive blow.
With an ingratiating smile she turned to Bielfeld and said:
"The prince royal spoke of your fiancee; I may, therefore,
congratulate you."
Bielfeld, who did not dare to acknowledge that he was on the point
of shamefully deserting this lady, bowed in silence.
"May I know the name of your fiancee?" asked she.
"Mademoiselle von Randau," murmured Bielfeld, drinking another glass
of sillery to hide his confusion.
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