"But if the Princess absolutely insists upon making the sacrifice?" "Then I shall as absolutely forbid her doing anything of the kind! The services which Kurt has rendered us are considerable, I admit; but then, in the first case, they were rendered to me. How can I ask her to act such a generous part? Nay, what does she mean by wishing to do it? One would not, one could not, do more for one's lover! And, to the best of my knowledge, she is in love with me, and not with Ringberg!" His cigar had gone out and he flung it away, turning to light a new one at one of the lights placed along the verandah. Thus he did not see the smile which Bertram--though his heart was little attuned to mirth--had not been able to repress at the words which his not over-modest friend had been uttering. "In that case the Princess will have to say, like the priest Domingo, in Schiller's 'Don Carlos:' 'We have been here in vain,'" he resumed, as the Colonel took his arm again. "To be sure," was the calm reply; "and I have strongly urged her to leave to-morrow. Surrounded as we are here by my officers, one or two of whom are already likely enough to know more than I care for, we are not for a single moment safe from startling disclosures. I think I have as strong nerves as most people, but to be seated upon a powder-barrel when there is a conflagration raging all round, is uncomfortable for the most courageous." "What is uncomfortable, Colonel?" asked Alexandra's voice behind them. The Colonel turned on his heels; and quickly buttoning his uniform, exclaimed-- "Ah, most gracious Princess!" "Let us call each other by our names before this good friend," said Alexandra. "Give me your arm, dear Doctor Bertram; and you, my friend, please to come to the other side. So now we can talk confidentially." "May I go on with my cigar?" "I should like to smoke one myself, if I dared! But now to the point. What have you decided?" "That is the very question," Bertram said, "which I was just submitting to Waldor." "I have decided, that the young people are to see how they can best settle things for themselves!" "That is an abominable decision!" "It is necessary." "Not for me! I shall speak to the young lady." "You will not do so if you value my advice ever so little. Moreover, if you felt so sure of this, why did you not do so yesterday?" "Because I require your co-operation." "Which I refuse!"