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MARIA FELICIA

to her, which caused him to favor her son even in matters on which they differed. He said that he could not, as her old servant, but love Joseph as much as he worshiped Maria Theresa.

Count Fridštejnský gave no chance for rest or recreation to those with whom he chose to converse. He ate sparingly of the midnight refreshments, which, for his special convenience, were served for the gentlemen in one of the side halls. The rest of the nobles had to conform their behavior to his; and dainties which Count Felsenburk, as if purposely, had piled up higher that day than ever before, were left with longing eyes before they had been well tasted.

By this arrangement the gentlemen were dissatisfied, and the ladies were offended because the Emperor was kept away from them. He had, during the whole evening, favored none of them with the least attention. Joseph II. proved to the Prague beauties that the rumor about his indifference to women was not groundless; but he did not succeed dur-