ENTS followed, on the next day, which (as will presently be seen) I
have a personal interest in relating.

The Baroness left us suddenly, on leave of absence. The Prince wearied
of his residence in the country; and the Court returned to the capital.
The charming Princess was reported to be "indisposed," and retired to
the seclusion of her own apartments.

A week later, I received a note f rom the Baroness, marked "private
and confidential." It informed me that she had resumed her duties
as lady-in-waiting, and that she wished to see me at my earliest
convenience. I obeyed at once; and naturally asked if there were better
accounts of her Highness's health.

The Baroness's reply a little surprised me. She said, "The Princess is
perfectly well."

"Recovered already!" I exclaimed.

"She has never been ill," the Baroness answered. "Her indisposition was
a sham; forced on her by me, in her own interests. Her reputation is in
peril; and you--you hateful Englishman--are the cause of it."

Not feeling disposed to put up with such language as this, even when
it was used by a lady, I requested that she would explain herself. She
complied without hesitation. In another minute my eyes were opened to
the truth. I knew--no; that is too positive--let me say I had reason to
believe that the Princess loved me!

It is simply impossible to convey to the minds of others any idea of the
emotions that overwhelmed me at that critical moment of my life. I
was in a state of confusion at the time; and, when my memory tries to
realize it, I am in a state of confusion now. The one thing I can do
is to repeat what the Baroness said to me when I had in some degree
recovered my composure.

"I suppose you are aware," she began, "of the disgrace to which the
Princess's infatuation exposes her, if it is discovered? On my own
responsibility I repeat what I said to you a short time since. Do you
refuse to leave this place immediately?"

Does the man live, honored as I was, who would have hesitated to refuse?
Find him if you can!

"Very well," she resumed. "As the friend of the Princess, I have no
choice now but to take things as they are, and to make the best of them.
Let us realize your position to begin with. If you were (like your elder
brother) a nobleman possessed of vast estates, my royal mistress might
be excused. As it is, whatever you may be in the future, you are nothing
now but an obscure young man, without fortune or title. Do you s