I thought this course very prudent, and said so. "But," I added, "I shall be called as a witness."
"No; Colonel Despard will."
"Well, then----"
"He will establish an _alibi_. _Voila tout!_"
"I am glad it all ends so happily, sir."
"Well, there is one matter," said the prince. "I had to tell the princess of your indiscretion in taking Mme. Vooght----"
"Who, sir?"
"Mr. Jason," put in Dumergue, "has not heard that the countess and Vooght are married."
"Yes," said the prince, "they are married, and will settle in America.
Vooght is a loss; but we can"t have everything in this world."
"I hope Herr Vooght will be happy," said I.
"I should think it very unlikely," said the prince. "But, to return. The princess is very angry with you. She insists----"
"That I should never be presented to her again?"
"On the contrary; that you should come and apologize in person. Only on condition of bringing you again could I make my peace for bringing you once."
I was very much surprised, but of course I said I was at the princess"
commands.
"You don"t mind meeting us in Paris? We stay there a few days," said Dumergue.
"You see," added the prince, "Dumergue says there are things called writs, and----"
"I will be in Paris to-morrow, sir."
"I shall be there to-day," said the prince, rising.
CHAPTER III.
The Mission of the Ruby
I could not imagine why the princess desired to see me. It would have been much more natural to punish the impertinence of which I had no doubt been guilty--I mean, of which it was agreed on all hands that I had been guilty--by merely declining to receive me or see me again.
Even the desire for a written apology would have been treating me as of too much account. But she wanted to see me. What I had heard of the princess" character utterly forbade any idea which ought not to have been, but would have been, pleasant to entertain. No; she clearly wanted me, but what for I could not imagine.
When I went to claim my audience, the prince was not visible, nor Dumergue either, and I was at once received by the princess alone. She was looking smaller, and more simple and helpless than ever. I also thought her looking prettier, and I enjoyed immensely the pious, severe, forgiving little rebuke which she administered to me. I humbly craved pardon, and had no difficulty in obtaining it. Indeed, she became very gracious.
"You must come to Glottenberg," she said, "in a few months" time."
"To obey Your Royal Highness" commands will be a delightful duty," said I, bowing.
She rose and stood by the fire, "toying" (as the novelists say) with her fan.
"You seem to be an obliging man, Mr. Jason," she said. "You were ready to oblige Mme. Vooght."
I made a gesture of half-serious protest.
"I wonder," she continued, "if you would do me a little service."
"I shall be most honored if I may hope to be able to," said I. What did she want?
She blushed slightly, and, with a nervous laugh, said:
"It"s only a short story. When I was a young girl, I was foolish enough, Mr. Jason, to fall in love, or at least to think I did. There was a young English _attache_--I know I can rely on your perfect discretion--at my father"s court, and he--he forgot the difference between us. He was a man of rank, though. Well, I was foolish enough to accept from him a very valuable ring--a fine ruby--quite a family heirloom. Of course, I never wore it, but I took it. And when I married, I----"
She paused.
"Your Royal Highness had no opportunity of returning it?"
"Exactly. He had left the court. I didn"t know where he was, and--and the post was not quite trustworthy."
"I understand perfectly."
"I saw in the papers the other day that he was married. Of course I can"t keep it. His wife ought to have it--and I dare not--I would prefer not to--send it."
"I see. You would wish me----"
"To be my messenger. Will you?"
Of course I a.s.sented. She went into an adjoining room, and returned with a little morocco case. Opening it, she showed me a magnificent ruby, set in an old gold ring of great beauty.
"Will you give it him?" she said.
"Your Royal Highness has not told me his name?"
"Lord Daynesborough. You will be able to find him?"
"Oh, yes!"
"And you will--you _will_ be careful, Mr. Jason?"
"He shall have it safely in three days. Any message with it, madame?"
"No. Yes--just my best wishes for his happiness."