n, "has no single history. She is most
often disillusioned, many times tragic, and always disgraceful."

"Ah, hush," she said angrily, "you presume too far. If you only
intended to lecture me--to condemn me--why did you come?"

At this sincerely humorous challenge Bulstrode smiled.

"I did not, to be quite accurate, come," he said, "and I assure you I
am here against my will. You refuse to listen to me; you turn my
efforts to put things straight against me--and now."

The handsome creature gave him a flash from angry eyes.

"Your Excellency is scarcely polite. But I understand. Even my rank
doesn't protect me: and although your old friendship for Gela did
overcome your scruples, and our letters did touch you--still we should
have remembered that you are, above all else, the King's friend."

Bulstrode fell a step back. Before he could take in the curious honors
that were being thrust upon him, the lady went hotly on:

"You know how indulgent of me the King has been: how he adores me
still, how blind he is, and you pity him and have no mercy for me."

Here, for she, too, had left her seat, she went over to the compartment
window and turning her back full on Bulstrode, stood looking out, and
she thus gave him time and he took it, not to consider his part of the
affair, but, as if it had been suddenly revealed to him by her words,
the woman's part in it. After all it was scarcely important whom, in
error, she believed him to be. In a strange fashion, through some
trick of resemblance, he was here and in her confidence in another's
stead--impersonating some man who, in spite of the reputation for
goodness and honor accredited him by this lady, would scarcely,
Bulstrode felt confident, be as scrupulous regarding the adventure as
he himself was fast becoming. The woman--the woman was all that
mattered. She was a Queen then? A Queen! And he had so naively
ignored her perquisites, been so innocently guilty of
_lese-majeste_--that she, poor thing, attributed his _sans gene_ to her
fallen state!

Kings and Queens, poor dears, how human they are! What royalty could
she be? And what King's friend was he so closely supposed to be? The
King's friend--well, so he was--so he must be in spite of his quick
pity for the lovely creature--in spite of chivalry and the trust she
displayed. But to be practical: what in half an hour could he hope to
accomplish--how could he keep a determined woman from wrecking her life?