I took it for
your Imperial Highness from the Chateau of John Sobieski at
Villanoff.
"I could not take my eyes off the gem. As the Prince held it down
under the lamp to study it, it shone like an electric light. I
had met many of my fellow countrymen in America and I had often
heard of this jewel, famous in our unhappy history.
"The Prince, who was gay with champagne, laughed and said:
"'These lousy Poles will have no further use for this pretty
trinket, thanks to our stout German blows, will they, Erich?'
"And his friend replied:
"'We'll give them a nice new German constitution instead, your
Imperial Highness!'
"The Prince, as I have said, was very merry that night. He let me
take the jewel from its case and hold it in my hands. Then I
fastened it in my hair before the mirror and turned to show
myself to the Prince and his companion.
"'Donnerwetter! said Willie. 'It looks wonderful in your hair,
Marcelle!'
"Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he cried:
"'Erich! What do you say, Marcelle is a Pole. She shall have the
Star of Poland and wear it in memory of me!'
"The other thought this a famous idea, and so the jewel passed
into my hands. That same evening I resolved that it should be a
sacred duty on my part to keep it in safety until I could hand it
back to the lawful sovereign of an independent Poland.
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