“I’ll stay here till I get in, or die on her doorstep!” he said fiercely, and Mansfield offered no further suggestions. Their patience met with its reward at last, although this would scarcely have happened had Princess Anna been able to resist informing Cyril that the Queen was about to spend the evening in the garden, and he might therefore give up the hope of attracting her attention. Scarcely had she departed when another face appeared at the grating, that of Baroness von Hilfenstein, coming to see who it was that had been conversing in French with her colleague. “You here, Count!” she said, with reproachful incredulity. “This is a--a--an unpleasant surprise.” “Baroness, you are very cruel, when I have spent the whole day here in the hope of catching a glimpse of you.” “You can hardly expect me to believe that, Count.” “Even though you know you are going to get me an interview with the Queen?” The Baroness threw up her hands. “Not that, Count, not that!” she pleaded piteously. “You would not make such an inexpedient, ill-timed request?” “But I do make exactly that request, Baroness. One word with her Majesty--that will tell me all I want to know.” “But, my dear Count,” said the old lady persuasively, “you must really be patient. Her Majesty was quite gratified--yes, I think I may without impropriety use the word--to hear from Fräulein von Staubach that you were anxious to wait upon her, and I think it is extremely probable that she will command your presence when the Court returns to Brutli. But now--I really could not say how she would receive this unfortunate application of yours!” “I will take my chance of that, Baroness. And here I stay until you assure me that her Majesty positively refuses to receive me.” “Now, Count, be reasonable.” The Baroness was much distressed by Cyril’s persistence. “I am sure you don’t wish to involve her Majesty in any unpleasantness? And poor dear Princess Anna, who has made such sacrifices, and shown such devotion to the Queen, would almost break her heart if she saw you received in audience. You see, she does not even know of Fräulein von Staubach’s letter--I happened to be in attendance when her Majesty opened it, and we thought it better to--to spare her feelings. Of course you understand?” “Am I to understand that Princess Anna’s feelings will be considered before mine? I know I have not deserved consideration, but----” “Her Majesty is all consideration, Count. She knows that the Prince of the Jews is here, for one of the Armenian servants heard it from the Arabs, but she believes you think she is at Brutli. She is able to identify the Prince of the Jews, but she does not know that you have found out who the Queen of the Desert is.” “I see,” said Cyril meditatively. “Then this explains why you played the ghost the night before last, Baroness--and last night also?”