“Ah neither do I!” the Princess said; while her visitor remained conscious of the perfect composure, the absence of false shame, with which she had named their common friend. But she was silent after this, and he judged he had stayed long enough and sufficiently taxed a preoccupied attention. He got up and was bidding her good-night when she suddenly brought out: “By the way, your not going to see so good a friend as Mr. Muniment because you disapprove to-day of his work suggests to me that you’ll be in an awkward fix, with your disapprovals, the hour you’re called upon to serve the cause according to your vow.” “Oh of course I’ve thought of that,” Hyacinth smiled. “And would it be indiscreet to ask what you’ve thought?” “Ah so many things, Princess! It would take me a long time to say.” “I’ve never talked to you of this, because it seemed to me indelicate and the whole thing too much a secret of your own breast for even so intimate a friend as I’ve been to have a right to meddle with it. But I’ve wondered much, seeing you take all the while less and less interest—in the real business, I mean, less and less—how you’d reconcile your change of heart with your meeting your engagement. I pity you, my poor friend,” she went on with a noble benignity, “for I can imagine nothing more terrible than to find yourself face to face with your obligation and to feel at the same time the spirit originally prompting it dead within you.” “Terrible, terrible, most terrible.” And he looked at her gravely. “But I pray God it may never be your fate!” The Princess had a pause, after which she added: “I see you feel it. Heaven help us all! Why shouldn’t I tell you when I worry?” she went on. “A short time ago I had a visit from Mr. Vetch.” “It was kind of you to see him,” Hyacinth said. “He was delightful, I assure you. But do you know what he came for? To beg me on his knees to snatch you away.” “Away from what?” “From the danger that hangs over you. He was most touching.” “Oh yes, he has talked to me about it,” our young man said. “He has picked up the idea, but is utterly at sea. And how did he expect you’d be able to snatch me?” “He left that to me; he had only a general—and such a flattering—belief in my possible effect on you.” “And he thought you’d set it in motion to make me back out? He does you injustice. You wouldn’t!” Hyacinth finely laughed. “In that case, taking one false position with another, yours would be no better than mine.” “Oh, speaking seriously, I’m perfectly quiet about you and about myself. I know you won’t be called,” the Princess returned. “May I be told how you know it?” She waited but an instant. “Mr. Muniment keeps me informed.” “And how does _he_ know?” “We’ve information. My poor dear friend,” the Princess went on, “you’re so much out of it now that if I were to tell you I fear you wouldn’t understand.”