He was killed early in this war. His
brother, a prisoner in Austria, as you may already know, is the next
in line for the throne,--if the poor devil lives to get it back from
the Huns. Miss Cameron is in reality the Countess Therese Mara-
Dafanda--familiarly and lovingly known in her own land as the Countess
Ted. She was visiting in this country when the war broke out. If it is
of any use to you, I'll add that she would be rich if Aladdin could
only come to life and restore the splendours of the demolished castle,
refill the chests of gold that have been emptied by the conquerors,
and restock the farms that have been pillaged and devastated. In the
absence of Aladdin, however, she is almost as poor as the ancient
church-mouse. But she has a fortune of her own. Two of the most
glorious rubies in the world represent her lips; her eyes are
sapphires that put to shame the rocks of all the Sultans; when she
smiles, you may look upon pearls that would make the Queen of Sheba's
trinkets look like chinaware; her skin is of the rarest and richest
velvet; her hair is all silk and a yard wide; and, best of all, she
has a heart of pure gold. So there you are, me man. Half the royal
progeny of Europe have been suitors for her hand, and the other half
would be if they didn't happen to be of the same sex.
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