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_. _Voilà 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: