Part 12 (2/2)
”You must bestow trust, if you desire not to be deceived, madame. You dared to use me as a go-between.”
”You had had practice in the trade.”
The princess had a turn for repartee. I could not have set her right without quite an argument. I evaded the point.
”And yet Your Royal Highness thought me a clumsy animal!”
”Oh,” she said, with a slight laugh, ”it's wounded _amour propre_, is it? Come, Mr. Jason, I apologize. You are all that is brilliant and delightful--and English.”
”Your Royal Highness is too good.”
”And now, Mr. Jason, your device being accomplished, I suppose I may bid you good-night?”
”I regret, madame, that I must press the prince's request on your notice.”
She sighed her usual impatient, petulant little sigh.
”Oh, you are tiresome! Pray go!”
”I cannot go without you, madame.”
”I am not going--and my establishment does not admit of my entertaining gentlemen,” she said, with smiling effrontery.
”Your Royal Highness refuses to allow me to attend you to Glottenberg?”
”I order you to leave this room.”
”Finally refuses?”
”Go.”
”Then I must add that I am commissioned, if necessary, to convey your Royal Highness to Glottenberg.”
”To convey me?”
I bowed.
”You dare to threaten me?”
”I follow my instructions. Will you come, madame, or----”
”Well?”
”Will you be taken?”
I was not surprised at her vexation. Dumergue had, in his haste, called her ”a little devil.” She looked it then.
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