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m the Princess's extraordinary kindness to the second secretary of the English legation； and he is only waiting for a little plainer evidence to communicate his suspicions to the Prince。 It rests with you to save the Princess。〃
〃Only tell me how I am to do it！〃 I said。
〃There is but one way of doing it；〃 she answered； 〃and that way has （comically enough） been suggested to me by the Doctor himself。〃
Her tone and manner tried my patience。
〃Come to the point！〃 I said。
She seemed to enjoy provoking me。
〃No hurry； Mr。 Ernestno hurry！ You shall be fully enlightened； if you will only wait a little。 The Prince； I must tell you； believes in his daughter's indisposition。 When he visited her this morning； he was attended by his medical adviser。 I was present at the interview。 To do him justice； the Doctor is worthy of the trust reposed in himhe boldly attempted to verify his suspicions of the daughter in the father's presence。〃
〃How？〃
〃Oh； in the well…known way that has been tried over and over again； under similar circumstances！ He merely invented a report that you were engaged in a love…affair with some charming person in the town。 Don't be angry； there's no harm done。〃
〃But there _is_ harm done；〃 I insisted。 〃What must the Princess think of me？〃
〃Do you suppose she is weak enough to believe the Doctor？ Her Highness beat him at his own weapons； not the slightest sign of agitation on her part rewarded his ingenuity。 All that you have to do is to help her to mislead this medical spy。 It's as easy as lying： and easier。 The Doctor's slander declares that you have a love…affair in the town。 Take the hintand astonish the Doctor by proving that he has hit on the truth。〃
It was a hot day； the Baroness was beginning to get excited。 She paused and fanned herself。
〃Do I startle you？〃 she asked。
〃You disgust me。〃
She laughed。
〃What a thick…headed man this is！〃 she said； pleasantly。 〃Must I put it more plainly still？ Engage in what your English prudery calls a 'flirtation；' with some woman herethe lower in degree the better； or the Princess might be jealousand let the affair be seen and known by everybody about the Court。 Sly as he is； the Doctor is not prepared for that！ At your age； and with your personal advantages； he will take appearances for granted； he will conclude that he has wronged you； and misinterpreted the motives of the Princess。 The secret of her Highness's weakness will be preservedthanks to that sacrifice； Mr。 Ernest； which you are so willing and so eager to make。〃
It was useless to remonstrate with such a woman as this。 I simply stated my own objection to her artfully devised scheme。
〃I don't wish to appear vain；〃 I said； 〃but the woman to whom I am to pay these attentions may believe that I really admire herand it is just possible that she may honestly return the feeling which I am only assuming。〃
〃Welland what then？〃
〃It's hard on the woman； surely？〃
The Baroness was shocked； unaffectedly shocked。
〃Good heavens！〃 she exclaimed； 〃how can anything that you do for the Princess be hard on a woman of the lower orders？ There must be an end of this nonsense； sir！ You have heard what I propose； and you know what the circumstances are。 My mistress is waiting for your answer。 What am I to say？〃
〃Let me see her Highness； and speak for myself；〃 I said。
〃Quite impossible to…day； without running too great a risk。 Your reply must be made through me。〃
There was to be a Court concert at the end of the week。 On that occasion I should be able to make my own reply。 In the meanwhile I only told the Baroness I wanted time to consider。
〃What time？〃 she asked。
〃Until to…morrow。 Do you object？〃
〃On the contrary； I cordially agree。 Your base hesitation may lead to results which I have not hitherto dared to anticipate。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Between this and to…morrow；〃 the horrid woman replied； 〃the Princess may end in seeing you with my eyes。 In that hope I wish you good…morning。〃
VI。
MY enemies say that I am a weak man； unduly influenced by persons of rankbecause of their rank。 If this we re true； I should have found little difficulty in consenting to adopt the Baroness's suggestion。 As it was； the longer I reflected on the scheme the less I liked it。 I tried to think of some alternative that might be acceptably proposed。 The time passed； and nothing occurred to me。 In this embarrassing position my mind became seriously disturbed； I felt the necessity of obtaining some relief； which might turn my thoughts for a while into a new channel。 The secretary called on me； while I was still in doubt what to do。 He reminded me that a new prima donna was advertised to appear on that night； and he suggested that we should go to the opera。 Feeling as I did at the time； I readily agreed。
We found the theater already filled； before the performance began。 Two French gentlemen were seated in the row of stalls behind us。 They were talking of the new singer。
〃She is advertised as 'Mademoiselle Fontenay；'〃 one of them said。 〃That sounds like an assumed name。〃
〃It _is_ an assumed name；〃 the other replied。 〃She is the daughter of a French singing…master； named Bonnefoy。〃
To my friend's astonishment I started to my feet； and left him without a word of apology。 In another minute I was at the stage…door； and had sent in my card to 〃Mademoiselle Fontenay。〃 While I was waiting； I had time to think。 Was it possible that Jeanne had gone on the stage？ Or were there two singing…masters in existence named Bonnefoy？ My doubts were soon decided。 The French woman…servant whom I remembered when I was Monsieur Bonnefoy's pupil； made her appearance； and conducted me to her young mistress's dressing…room。 Dear good Jeanne； how glad she was to see me！
I found her standing before the glass； having just completed her preparations for appearing on the stage。 Dressed in her picturesque costume； she was so charming that I expressed my admiration heartily； as became her old friend。 〃Do you really like me？〃 she said； with the innocent familiarity which I recollected so well。 〃See how I look in the glassthat is the great test。〃 It was not easy to apply the test。 Instead of looking at her image in the glass； it was far more agreeable to look at herself。 We were interruptedtoo soon interruptedby the call…boy。 He knocked at the door； and announced that the overture had begun。
〃I have a thousand things to ask you；〃 I told her。 〃What has made this wonderful change in your life？ How is it that I don't see your father〃
Her face instantly saddened； her hand trembled as she laid it on my arm to silence me。
〃Don't speak of him now；〃 she said； 〃or you will unnerve me。 Come to me to…morrow when the stage will not be waiting； Annette will give you my address。〃 She opened the door to go out； and returned。 〃Will you think me very unreasonable if I ask you not to make one of my audience to…night？ You have reminded me of the dear old days that can never come again。 If I feel that I am singing to _you_〃 She left me to understand the rest； and turned away again to the door。 As I followed her out； to say good…by； she drew from her bosom the little brooch which had been my parting gift； and held it out to me