It was seven o'clock; the great animated festival drew near its end.
At a given signal from the master of ceremonies, the music on the
esplanade stopped; a hush fell on the distinguished gathering.
Archduke Victor, in his own exalted person, was to award the stipulated
prizes to the boats of most artistic and original designs.
The fanfares sounded gayly over land and sea, and all the boats small
and large ranged themselves in a semi-circle about the illustrious
judge. The first prize, a silver statuette of the Goddess Hebe, was
awarded to the fascinating princess of Egypt.
With a flourish of trumpets, and amid shouts of applause from the
enthusiastic throng, all looked around for the boat of the prize
winner. But there was no sign of it anywhere, nor was the single boat
of the slender Englishman to be seen any more.
At a given signal from Mr. Ogden, the artistically constructed little
boat had quietly turned about, and the two, availing themselves of the
general excitement over the awarding of prizes, had quietly slipped
away behind the neighboring piers, where the palatial home of the
unfortunate Archduke Johann Salvatore is to be seen. He is better known
to the outer world under the pseudonym "Johann Orth."
His sorrowing mother is still seen by passers-by sitting near the
window with expectant eyes waiting for the lost son to return.
The brilliant floral festival enacted on the lake was at an end. On the
esplanade were still seen groups of excited spectators discussing with
great animation once more, the singular disappearance of the wonderful
little boat that was fortunate enough to win the first prize and whose
occupants disappeared without claiming that distinction. Others lost no
time in entering the brightly illuminated cafes in the vicinity of the
esplanade to refresh themselves after the excitement of the grand event.
On the eastern horizon a thin, fleecy scarf of clouds was visible and
the silvery moon with all her sparkling companions had just come out
to beam upon the scene. The West was a single shrine of beryl, whereon
ruby flakes of vapor seemed to float through the universe.
Meanwhile the much-admired boat was silently gliding over the surface
of the gently splashing waves. The half reclining form of the
fascinating woman seemed in the amber moonlight to resemble that of
Aphrodite, as if risen from the waves and in a wanton mood, anxious to
make a trial performance all by herself of her incontestable power over
the other sex.
"Am I really so fascinating? Did those admiring glances tell the tale
of my triumph?" she murmured with a happy smile to herself, looking
askance at the boat alongside her's, where her jealous admirer sat with
gloomy eyes, consumed by jealousy.
Mr. Ogden, to whom she owed all this splendor, regarded with
unconcealed displeasure the day's proceedings. He reproached himself
for having yielded to her entreaty. She had begged and coaxed him so
much, until he gave his consent, then he ordered the decoration of the
boat. Her costume was especially ordered from the most expensive tailor
according to ancient pictures of the Egyptian Queen. Ogden undoubtedly
wanted her to be the most striking figure on the lake.
And now! Was he really jealous because she was the most admired, the
most beautiful? "Jealous? Ho! ho!"
She shrugged her white shoulders with a contemptuous smile.