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tears； I kissed her； I said； 〃Tell me the name of any one of the wretches who has written to you； and I will make him an example to the rest！〃 She shook her head； and pointed to the morsels of paper on the floor。 〃Oh； Ernest； do you think I asked you to come here for any such purpose as that？ Those jewels； those hateful jewels； tell me how I can send them back！ spare me the sight of them！〃
So far it was easy to console her。 I sent the jewels at once to the manager of the theaterwith a written notice to be posted at the stage door； stating that they were waiting to be returned to the persons who could describe them。
〃Try； my dear； to forget what has happened；〃 I said。 〃Try to find consolation and encouragement in your art。〃
〃I have lost all interest in my success on the stage；〃 she answered； 〃now I know the penalty I must pay for it。 When my father's memory is clear of reproach； I shall leave the theater never to return to it again。〃
〃Take time to consider； Jeanne。〃
〃I will do anything you ask of me。〃
For a while we were silent。 Without any influence to lead to it that I could trace； I found myself recalling the language that the Princess had used in alluding to Jeanne。 When I thought of them now； the words and the tone in which they had been spoken jarred on me。 There is surely something mean in an assertion of superiority which depends on nothing better than the accident of birth。 I don't know why I took Jeanne's hand； I don't know why I said； 〃What a good girl you are！ how glad I am to have been of some little use to you！〃 Is my friend the secretary right； when he reproaches me with acting on impulse； like a woman？ I don't like to think so； and yet； this I must ownit was well for me that I was obliged to leave her； before I had perhaps said other words which might have been alike unworthy of Jeanne； of the Princess； and of myself。 I was called away to speak to my servant。 He brought with him the secretary's card； having a line written on it： 〃I am waiting at your rooms； on business which permits of no delay。〃
As we shook hands； Jeanne asked me if I knew where her uncle was。 I could only tell her that he had left me at my own door。 She made no remark； but she seemed to be uneasy on receiving that reply。
X。
WHEN I arrived at my rooms； my colleague hurried to meet me the moment I opened the door。
〃I am going to surprise you；〃 he said； 〃and there is no time to prepare you for it。 Our chief； the Minister； has seen the Prince this morning； and has been officially informed of an event of importance in the life of the Princess。 She is engaged to be married to the Grand Duke。〃
Engaged to the Dukeand not a word from her to warn me of it！ Engagedafter what she had said to me no longer ago than the past night！ Had I been made a plaything to amuse a great lady？ Oh； what degradation！ I was furious； I snatched up my hat to go to the palaceto force my way to herto overwhelm her with reproaches。 My friend stopped me。 He put an official document into my hand。
〃There is your leave of absence from the legation；〃 he said； 〃beginning from to…day。 I have informed the Minister； in strict confidence； of the critical position in which you are placed。 He agrees with me that the Princess's inexcusable folly is alone to blame。 Leave us； Ernest； by the next train。 There is some intrigue going on； and I fear you may be involved in it。 You know that the rulers of these little German States can exercise despotic authority when they choose？〃
〃Yes！ yes！〃
〃Whether the Prince has acted of his own free willor whether he has been influenced by some person about himI am not able to tell you。 He has issued an order to arrest an old Frenchman； known to be a republican； and suspected of associating with one of the secret societies in this part of Germany。 The conspirator has taken to flight； having friends； as we suppose； who warned him in time。 But this； Ernest； is not the worst of it。 That charming singer； that modest； pretty girl〃
〃You don't mean Jeanne？〃
〃I am sorry to say I do。 Advantage has been taken of her relationship to the old man； to include that innocent creature in political suspicions which it is simply absurd to suppose that she has deserved。 She is ordered to leave the Prince's domains immediately。Are you going to her？〃
〃Instantly！〃 I replied。
Could I feel a moment's hesitation； after the infamous manner in which the Princess had sacrificed me to the Grand Duke？ Could I think of the poor girl； friendless； helplesswith nobody near her but a stupid woman…servant； unable to speak the language of the countryand fail to devote myself to the protection of Jeanne？ Thank God； I reached her lodgings in time to tell her what had happened； and to take it on myself to receive the police。
XI。
IN three days more； Jeanne was safe in London； having traveled under my escort。 I was fortunate enough to find a home for her； in the house of a lady who had been my mother's oldest and dearest friend。
We were separated； a few days afterward； by the distressing news which reached me of the state of my brother's health。 I went at once to his house in the country。 His medical attendants had lost all hope of saving him： they told me plainly that his release from a life of suffering was near at hand。
While I was still in attendance at his bedside； I heard from the secretary。 He inclosed a letter； directed to me in a strange handwriting。 I opened the envelope and looked for the signature。 My friend had been entrapped into sending me an anonymous letter。
Besides addressing me in French （a language seldom used in my experience at the legation）； the writer disguised the identity of the persons mentioned by the use of classical names。 In spite of these precautions； I felt no difficulty in arriving at a conclusion。 My correspondent's special knowledge of Court secrets； and her malicious way of communicating them； betrayed the Baroness。
I translate the letter； restoring to the persons who figure in it the names under which they are already known。 The writer began in these satirically familiar terms：
〃When you left the Prince's dominions； my dear sir； you no doubt believed yourself to be a free agent。 Quite a mistake！ You were a mere puppet； and the strings that moved you were pulled by the Doctor。
〃Let me tell you how。
〃On a certain night； which you well remember； the Princess was unexpectedly summoned to the presence of her father。 His physician's skill had succeeded in relieving the illustrious Prince； prostrate under nervous miseries。 He was able to attend to a state affair of importance； revealed to him by the Doctorwho then for the first time acknowledged that he had presented himself at Court in a diplomatic； as well as in a medical capacity。
〃This state affair related to a proposal for the hand of the Princess； received from the Grand Duke through the authorized medium of the Doctor。 Her Highness； being consulted； refused to consider the proposal。 The Prince asked for her reason。 She answered： 'I have no wish to be married。' Naturally irritated by such a ridiculous excuse； her father declared positively that the marriage should take place。
〃The impression produced on the Grand Duke's favorite