e knees alone were evidence against his
character in the eyes of the Grand Duchess. They gave him a brazen,
abandoned air; and a young man who cultivated so long a space between
stockings and trousers might be capable of any crime.

"Oh, Mother, you're very much mistaken," Virginia was protesting.
"This man is a great friend of mine, and has saved my life. You must
thank him. If it were not for him, I might never have come back to
you."

At last the meaning of her words penetrated to the intelligence of the
Grand Duchess, through an armor of misapprehension.

"He saved your life?" she echoed. "Oh, then you have been in danger!
Heaven be thanked for your safety--and also that the man's not likely
to know English, or I should never forgive myself for what I've said.
Here is my purse, dearest. Catch it as I throw, and give it to him
just as it is. There are at least twenty pounds in it, and I only wish
I could afford more. But what is the matter, my child? You look ready
to faint."

As she began to speak, she snatched from a desk at which she had been
writing, a netted silver purse. But while she paused, waiting for
Virginia to hold out her hands, the girl forbade the contemplated act
of generosity with an imploring gesture.

"He will accept no reward for what he has done, except our thanks; and
those I give him once again," the girl answered. She then turned to
the chamois hunter, and made him a present of her hand, over which he
bowed with the air of a courtier rather than the rough manner of a
peasant. And the Grand Duchess still hoped that the Emperor might be
at the window, as really it was a pretty picture, and, it seemed to
her, presented a pleasing phase of Virginia's character.

She eagerly awaited her daughter's coming, and having lingered at the
window to watch with impatience the rather ceremonious leave-taking,
she hastened to the door of the improvised sitting-room to welcome the
mountaineers, as they returned to tell their adventures.

"My darling, who do you think was listening and looking from the
window next ours?" she breathlessly inquired, when she had embraced
her newly-restored treasure--for the secret of the adjoining room was
too good to keep until questions had been put. "Can't you guess? I'm
surprised at that, since you were so sure last night of a certain
person's presence not far away. Why, who but your Emperor himself!"

The Princess laughed happily, and kissed her mother's pink cheek.