“All right, I promise,” said Matthew, still chuckling and glancing toward her. As he did his foot tripped over one of the large stones bordering the pond.

He stumbled, losing his balance, and fell toward the water. Sabina quickly reached out to help him.

He grabbed for her outstretched hands, trying to steady himself, but only succeeded in causing her to lose her balance on the uneven footing as well.

He toppled over sideways, half a glass of juice splattering over his suit as it left his hand, and fell with a splash into the water, his clumsy descent coming to a stop when one knee and one hand were resting a foot underwater on the bottom of the fishpond, with his other arm and leg straddled precariously over the edge on the lawn.

Sabina struggled to keep on her feet, though one of them plunged into the water before she then fell backwards onto the lawn, plopping unceremoniously onto her back, one wet shoe still dangling over the edge of the pond.

“Good grief, I can’t believe I did that!” muttered Matthew in disgust.

“Are you all right?” said Sabina, sitting up, then rising. Seeing the position he was stuck in, she began to laugh.

She stepped into the pond, stooped down as best she could manage while trying to hold her long dress out of the water, took hold of one of Matthew’s arms, still laughing, and helped him crawl out of the water. In another moment they were both lying on the grass. Half of his suit was soaking wet.

“I really can’t believe it!” he repeated. “I don’t usually do things like that!”

Sabina was laughing hysterically, though trying to keep from making too much noise. In another few seconds Matthew had joined her.

“Won’t your cousin love this?” said Matthew sardonically. “Maybe I can sneak out of here!”

“Too late!” said Sabina, trying to stop laughing. “You made too much noise. Everyone heard the splash!”

Matthew glanced toward the rest of the party. All the guests, from the topmost levels of German society, had stopped what they were doing and were now staring directly at the two of them lying on the grass with the water of the fishpond all over them.

For a moment there was silence as all beheld the scene, then he saw Brigitte begin to titter, then laugh outright. All those in her small coterie followed suit, and within a minute most of the other guests were likewise enjoying the unexpected entertainment. Only the fellow Brigitte had earlier been talking to did not seem to enter heartily into the joke. The hint of a smile played upon his lips, but it was not a smile of humor, only chilly tolerance for the boorish amusements of those beneath him.

When word began to circulate that the fop was an American, the joke gained even more favor, and the expression of merriment continued for some time.