o is born a woman is born a fool. And though I hate all
women--come, for the common folly, I forgive you. Your Highness"--she
dropped a deep stage curtsey and resumed her fan--"I am going to insult
you, to betray one who is called my lover, and, if it pleases you to use
the power I now put unreservedly into your hands, to ruin my dear self.
O what a French comedy! You betray, I betray, they betray. It is now my
cue. The letter, yes. Behold the letter, madam, its seal unbroken as I
found it by my bed this morning; for I was out of humour, and I get
many, too many, of these favours. For your own sake, for the sake of my
Prince Charming, for the sake of this great principality that sits so
heavy on your conscience, open it and read!"

"Am I to understand," inquired the Princess, "that this letter in any
way regards me?"

"You see I have not opened it," replied von Rosen; "but 'tis mine, and I
beg you to experiment."

"I cannot look at it till you have," returned Seraphina, very
seriously. "There may be matter there not meant for me to see; it is a
private letter."

The Countess tore it open, glanced it through, and tossed it back; and
the Princess, taking up the sheet, recognised the hand of Gondremark,
and read with a sickening shock the following lines:--

"Dearest Anna, come at once. Ratafia has done the deed, her husband
is to be packed to prison. This puts the minx entirely in my power;
_le tour est joue_; she will now go steady in harness, or I will know
the reason why. Come.

"HEINRICH."

"Command yourself, madam," said the Countess, watching with some alarm
the white face of Seraphina. "It is in vain for you to fight with
Gondremark; he has more strings than mere court favour, and could bring
you down to-morrow with a word. I would not have betrayed him otherwise;
but Heinrich is a man, and plays with all of you like marionettes. And
now at least you see for what you sacrificed my Prince. Madam, will you
take some wine? I have been cruel."

"Not cruel, madam--salutary," said Seraphina, with a phantom smile. "No,
I thank you, I require no attentions. The first surprise affected me:
will you give me time a little? I must think."

She took her head between her hands and contemplated for a while the
hurricane confusion of her thoughts.

"This information reaches me," she said, "when I have need of it. I
would not do as you have done, but yet I thank you. I have been much
deceived in Baron