I. How They Were Found

by Louisa May Alcott

　　"What a long sigh! Are you tired, Amy?""Yes, and disappointed as well. I never would have undertaken thisjourney if I had not thought it would be full of novelty, romance, andcharming adventures.""Well, we have had several adventures.""Bah! losing one's hat in the Rhine, getting left at a dirty littleinn, and having our pockets picked, are not what I call adventures. Iwish there were brigands in Germany--it needs something of that sortto enliven its stupidity.""How can you call Germany stupid when you have a scene like thisbefore you?" said Helen, with a sigh of pleasure, as she looked fromthe balcony which overhangs the Rhine at the hotel of the "ThreeKings" at Coblentz. Ehrenbreitstein towered opposite, the broad riverglittered below, and a midsummer moon lent its enchantment to thelandscape.As she spoke, her companion half rose from the low chair where shelounged, and showed the pretty, piquant face of a young girl. Sheseemed in a half melancholy, half petulant mood; and traces of recentillness were visible in the languor of her movements and the pallor ofher cheeks."Yes, it is lovely; but I want adventures and romance of some sortto make it quite perfect. I don't care what, if something would onlyhappen.""My dear, you are out of spirits and weary now, to-morrow you'll beyourself again. Do not be ungrateful to uncle or unjust to yourself.Something pleasant will happen, I've no doubt. In fact, somethinghas happened that you may make a little romance out of, perhaps, forlack of a more thrilling adventure.""What do you mean?" and Amy's listless face brightened."Speak low; there are balconies all about us, and we may beoverheard," said Helen, drawing nearer after an upward glance."What is the beginning of a romance?" whispered Amy, eagerly."A pair of gloves. Just now, as I stood here, and you lay with youreyes shut, these dropped from the balcony overhead. Now amuse yourselfby weaving a romance out of them and their owner."Amy seized them, and stepping inside the window, examined them by thecandle."A gentleman's gloves, scented with violets! Here's a little holefretted by a ring on the third finger. Bless me! here are theinitials, 'S.P.,' stamped on the inside, with a coat of arms below.What a fop to get up his gloves in this style! They are exquisite,though. Such a delicate color, so little soiled, and so prettilyornamented! Handsome hands wore these. I'd like to see the man."Helen laughed at the girl's interest, and was satisfied if any trifleamused her ennui."I will send them back by the kellner, and in that way we maydiscover their owner," she said.But Amy arrested her on the way to the door."I've a better plan; these waiters are so stupid you'll get nothingout of them. Here's the hotel book sent up for our names; let us lookamong the day's arrivals and see who 'S.P.' is. He came to-day, I'msure, for the man said the rooms above were just taken, so we couldnot have them."Opening the big book, Amy was soon intently poring over the long listof names, written in many hands and many languages."I've got it! Here he is--oh, Nell, he's a baron! Isn't that charming?'Sigismund von Palsdorf, Dresden.' We must see him, for I know he'shandsome, if he wears such distracting gloves.""You'd better take them up yourself, then.""You know I can't do that; but I shall ask the man a few questions,just to get an idea what sort of person the baron is. Then I shallchange my mind and go down to dinner; shall look well about me, and ifthe baron is agreeable I shall make uncle return the gloves. He willthank us, and I can say I've known a real baron. That will be so nicewhen we go home. Now, don't be duennaish and say I'm silly, but let medo as I like, and come and dress."Helen submitted, and when the gong pealed through the house, MajorErskine marched into the great salle a manger, with a comely nieceon each arm. The long tables were crowded, and they had to run thegauntlet of many eyes as they made their way to the head of the uppertable. Before she touched her soup, Amy glanced down the line offaces opposite, and finding none that answered the slight descriptionelicited from the waiter, she leaned a little forward to examine thoseon her own side of the table. Some way down sat several gentlemen, andas she bent to observe them, one did the same, and she received anadmiring glance from a pair of fine black eyes. Somewhat abashed, shebusied herself with her soup: but the fancy had taken possession ofher, and presently she whispered to Helen,--"Do you see any signs of the baron?""On my left; look at the hands."Amy looked and saw a white, shapely hand with an antique ring on thethird finger. Its owner's face was averted, but as he conversed withanimation, the hand was in full play, now emphasizing an opinion, nowlifting a glass, or more frequently pulling at a blond beard whichadorned the face of the unknown. Amy shook her head decidedly."I hate light men, and don't think that is the baron, for the glovesare a size too small for those hands. Lean back and look some four orfive seats lower down on the right. See what sort of person the darkman with the fine eyes is."Helen obeyed, but almost instantly bent to her plate again, smiling inspite of herself."That is an Englishman; he stares rudely, says 'By Jove!' and wears nojewelry or beard.""Now, I'm disappointed. Well, keep on the watch, and tell me if youmake any discoveries, for I will find the baron."Being hungry, Amy devoted herself to her dinner, till dessert was onthe table. She was languidly eating grapes, while Helen talked withthe major, when the word "baron" caught her ear. The speakers sat at atable behind her, so that she could not see them without turning quiteround, which was impossible; but she listened eagerly to the followingscrap of chat:--"Is the baron going on to-morrow?" asked a gay voice in French."Yes, he is bound for Baden-Baden. The season is at its height, and hemust make his game while the ball is rolling, or it is all up with theopen-handed Sigismund," answered a rough voice."Won't his father pardon the last escapade?" asked a third, with alaugh."No, and he is right. The duel was a bad affair, for the man almostdied, and the baron barely managed to get out of the scrape throughcourt influence. When is the wedding to be?""Never, Palsdorf says. There is everything but love in the bargain,and he swears he'll not agree to it. I like that.""There is much nobleness in him, spite of his vagaries. He will sowhis wild oats and make a grand man in time. By the by, if we are goingto the fortress, we must be off. Give Sigismund the word; he is diningat the other table with Power," said the gay voice."Take a look at the pretty English girl as you go by; it will do youreyes good, after the fat Frauleins we have seen of late," added therough one.Three gentlemen rose, and as they passed Amy stole a glance at them;but seeing several pairs of eyes fixed on herself, she turned awayblushing, with the not unpleasant consciousness that "the prettyEnglish girl" was herself. Longing to see which Sigismund was, sheventured to look after the young men, who paused behind the man withthe blond beard, and also touched the dark-eyed gentleman on theshoulder. All five went down the hall and stood talking near the door."Uncle, I wish to go," said Amy, whose will was law to the amiablemajor. Up he rose, and Amy added, as she took his arm, "I'm seizedwith a longing to go to Baden-Baden and see a little gambling. You arenot a wild young man, so you can be trusted there.""I hope so. Now you are a sensible little woman, and we'll do our bestto have a gay time. Wait an instant till I get my hat."While the major searched for the missing article the girls went on,and coming to the door, Amy tried to open it. The unwieldy foreignlock resisted her efforts, and she was just giving it an impatientlittle shake, when a voice said behind her,--"Permit me, mademoiselle;" at the same moment a handsome hand turnedthe latch, the flash of a diamond shone before her, and the dooropened."Merci, monsieur," she murmured, turning as she went out; but Helenwas close behind her, and no one else to be seen except the massivemajor in the rear."Did you see the baron?" she whispered eagerly, as they wentup-stairs."No; where was he?""He opened the door for me. I knew him by his hand and ring. He wasclose to you.""I did not observe him, being busy gathering up my dress. I thoughtthe person was a waiter, and never looked at him," said Helen, withprovoking indifference."How unfortunate! Uncle, you are going to see the fortress; we don'tcare for it; but I want you to take these gloves and inquire for BaronSigismund Palsdorf. He will be there with a party of gentlemen. Youcan easily manage it, men are so free and easy. Mind what he is like,and come home in time to tell me all about it."Away went the major, and the cousins sat on the balcony enjoying thelovely night, admiring the picturesque scene, and indulging inthe flights of fancy all girls love, for Helen, in spite of herthree-and-twenty years, was as romantic as Amy at eighteen. It waspast eleven when the major came, and the only greeting he received wasthe breathless question,--"Did you find him?""I found something much better than any baron, a courier. I've wantedone ever since we started; for two young ladies and their baggage aremore than one man can do his duty by, Karl Hoffman had such excellenttestimonials from persons I know, that I did not hesitate to engagehim, and he comes to-morrow; so henceforth I've nothing to do butdevote myself to you.""How very provoking! Did you bring the gloves back?" asked Amy, stillabsorbed in the baron.The major tossed them to her, and indulged in a hearty laugh at hergirlish regrets; then bade them good-night, and went away to giveorders for an early start next morning.Tired of talking, the girls lay down in the two little white bedsalways found in German hotels, and Amy was soon continuing in sleepthe romance she had begun awake. She dreamed that the baron proved tobe the owner of the fine eyes; that he wooed and won her, and theywere floating down the river to the chime of wedding-bells.At this rapturous climax she woke to find the air full of music, andto see Helen standing tall and white in the moonlight that streamed inat the open window."Hush, hide behind the curtains and listen; it's a serenade,"whispered Helen, as Amy stole to her side.Shrouded in the drapery, they leaned and listened till the song ended,then Amy peeped; a dark group stood below; all were bareheaded, andnow seemed whispering together. Presently a single voice rose, singingan exquisite little French canzonet, the refrain of which was apassionate repetition of the word "Amie." She thought she recognizedthe voice, and the sound of her own name uttered in such ardent tonesmade her heart beat and her color rise, for it seemed to signify thatthe serenade was for them. As the last melodious murmur ceased, therecame a stifled laugh from below, and something fell into the balcony.Neither dared stir till the sound of departing feet reassured them;then creeping forward Amy drew in a lovely bouquet of myrtle, roses,and great German forget-me-nots, tied with a white ribbon andaddressed in a dashing hand to La belle Helene."Upon my life, the romance has begun in earnest," laughed Helen,as she examined the flowers. "You are serenaded by some unknownnightingale, and I have flowers tossed up to me in the charming oldstyle. Of course it is the baron, Amy.""I hope so; but whoever it is, they are regular troubadours, and I'mdelighted. I know the gloves will bring us fun of some kind. Do youtake one and I'll take the other, and see who will find the baronfirst. Isn't it odd that they knew our names?""Amy, the writing on this card is very like that in the big book. Imay be bewitched by this mid-summer moonlight, but it really is verylike it. Come and see."The two charming heads bent over the card, looking all the morecharming for the dishevelled curls and braids that hung about them asthe girls laughed and whispered together in the softly brilliant lightthat filled the room."You are right; it is the same. The men who stared so at dinner aregay students perhaps, and ready for any prank. Don't tell uncle, butlet us see what will come of it. I begin to enjoy myself heartilynow--don't you?" said Amy, laying her glove carefully away."I enjoyed myself before, but I think 'La belle Helene' gives anadded relish to life, Amie," laughed Nell, putting her flowers inwater; and then both went back to their pillows, to dream delightfullytill morning.