g until then?"

"No!" De Brensault said, after a moment's hesitation. "I would like to
delay nothing. I would like to marry Mademoiselle Jeanne at once, if it
can be arranged."

"To tell you the truth," the Princess said, "I think it would be much
the best way out of a very difficult situation. I am finding Jeanne
very difficult to manage, and I am quite sure that she will be happier
and better off married. I am proposing, if you are willing, to exercise
my authority absolutely. If she shows the slightest reluctance to
accept you, I propose that we all go over to Paris. I shall know how to
arrange things there."

De Brensault smiled. The prospect of winning Jeanne at any cost became
more and more attractive to him. The Princess, who was looking at him
through half closed eyes, saw that he was perfectly safe.

"And now, my dear Count," she said, "I am going to ask you a favour. I
am doing for you something for which you ought to be grateful to me all
your life. For a mere trifle which will not recompense me in the least
for what I am giving up, I am finding you one of the most desirable
brides in Europe. I want you to help me a little."

"What is it that I can do?" he asked.

"Let me have five thousand pounds on account of what you are going to
give me, to-morrow morning," she said coolly.

De Brensault hesitated. He was prepared to pay for what he wanted, but
five thousand pounds was nevertheless a great deal of money.

"I would not ask you," the Princess continued, "if I were not really
hard up. I have been gambling, a foolish thing to do, and I do not want
to sell my securities, because I know that very soon they will pay me
over and over again. Will you do this for me? Remember, I am giving you
my word that Jeanne is to be yours."

"Make it three thousand," De Brensault said slowly. "Three thousand
pounds I will send you a cheque for, to-morrow morning."

The Princess nodded.

"As you will," she said. "I think if I were you, though, I should make
it five. However, I shall leave it for you to do what you can. Now will
you take me out into the ballroom. I am going to look for Jeanne."

They found her at supper with the Duke and Andrew and a very great
lady, a connection of the Duke's, who was one of those few who had
refused to accept the Princess. The Princess swept up to the little
party and laid her hand upon Jeanne's shoulder.

"I do not want to hurry you, dear," she said, "but when you have
finishe