The Princess opened her eyes at the sound of her maid's approach. Sheturned her head impatiently toward the door.
"Annette," she said coldly, "did you misunderstand me? Did I not saythat I was on no account to be disturbed this afternoon?"
Annette was the picture of despair. Eyebrows and hands betrayed alikeboth her agitation of mind and her nationality.
"Madame," she said, "did I not say so to monsieur? I begged him to callagain. I told him that madame was lying down with a bad headache, andthat it was as much as my place was worth to disturb her. What did heanswer? Only this. That it would be as much as my place was worth if Idid not come up and tell you that he was here to see you on a veryurgent matter. Indeed, madame, he was very, very impatient with me."
"Of whom are you talking?" the Princess asked.
"But of Major Forrest, madame," Annette declared. "It is he who waitsbelow."
The Princess closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly opened them.She stretched out her hand, and from a table by her side took up asmall gilt mirror.
"Turn on the lights, Annette," she commanded.
The maid illuminated the darkened room. The Princess gazed at herselfin the mirror, and reaching out again took a small powder-puff from itscase and gently dabbed her face. Then she laid both mirror andpowder-puff back in their places.
"You will tell monsieur," she said, "that I am very unwell indeed, butthat since he is here and his business is urgent I will see him. Turnout the lights, Annette. I am not fit to be seen. And move my couch alittle, so."
"Madame is only a little pale," the maid said reassuringly. "That makesnothing. These Englishwomen have all too much colour. I go to tellmonsieur."
She disappeared, and the Princess lay still upon her couch, thinking.Soon she heard steps outside, and with a little sigh she turned herhead toward the door. The man who entered was tall, and of the ordinarytype of well-born Englishmen. He was carefully dressed, and hissomewhat scanty hair was arranged to the best advantage. His featureswere hard and lifeless. His eyes were just a shade too close together.The maid ushered him in and withdrew at once.
"Come and sit by my side, Nigel, if you want to talk to me," thePrincess said. "Walk softly, please. I really have a headache."
"No wonder, in this close room," the man muttered, a littleungraciously. "It smells as though you had been burning incense here."
"It suits me," the Princess answered calmly, "and it happens to be myroom. Bring that chair up here and say what you have to say."
The man obeyed in silence. When he had made himself quite comfortable,he raised her hand, the one which was nearest to him, to his lips, and