boudoir.

The Princess opened a small cabinet, and produced a tiny stoppered
bottle.

"By swallowing this medicine," she answered. "I have had it specially
prepared from a recipe given me ten years ago at a time when I
thought of resorting to the same contrivance to escape from my
taskmaster."

I took the bottle in my hand, and examined it carefully. It bore no
label, and the contents appeared perfectly colorless.

"In five minutes after you have swallowed the contents of the
bottle," Sophia explained, "you will begin to turn cold, at first in
the feet and hands. As the cold mounts to the brain you will
gradually lose consciousness, and become rigid. You will look as pale
as if you were actually dead, and your heart will cease to beat."

"And how long will this stupor last?"

"About twenty-four hours, more or less, according to your
constitution."

I looked carefully and steadily into her eyes. She flushed and
trembled violently, but did not quail.

"What does it taste like?" I asked.

"It is a little bitter."

"I will take it in water, then."

"You can take it in wine, if you like. I have some here."

She moved to a small cupboard in the wall.

"I shall tell them that I gave it to you in wine, in any case," she
added.

"I prefer water, thank you. May I fetch some from the next room?"

"I will fetch it," she said hastily, going to the bedroom.

On an ebony stand beside me there was a large china bowl containing a
flowering plant in its pot. In a second I had removed the stopper,
emptied the bottle into the space between the flower-pot and the
outer bowl, and put the stopper back again.

"Tell me," I said to the Princess as she hurried back with a carafe
and tumbler, "have you thought how I am to get away from this house
without exciting attention?"

"It will be easy for me to procure you a dozen disguises. I am always
going to masked balls. But are you in such a hurry to leave me?"

"I shall find the air of your oratory rather confined, I am afraid."

She hung her head in evident chagrin.

"But where will you go?" she demanded.

"Oh, that is all arranged. I have taken a small house and furnished
it, in another name."

"Where?" she asked breathlessly.

"Perhaps I had better not tell you till this excitement is over. I
must not burden you with too many of my secrets."

Sophia's eyes filled with tears.

"You distrust me still!" she cried. "But, after all, what does it
matter? I have onl