He was on the top of a ladder when he heard a voice remark, “I’m afraid they’re very dusty; in this house, you know, it’s the dust of centuries,” and, looking down, saw Madame Grandoni posted in the middle of the room. He instantly prepared to descend and greet her, but she exclaimed: “Stay, stay, if you’re not giddy; we can talk from here! I only came in to show you we _are_ in the house and to tell you to keep up your patience. The Princess will probably see you in a few hours.” “I really hope so,” he returned from his perch, rather dismayed at the “probably.” “_Natürlich_,” said the old lady; “but people have come sometimes and gone away without seeing her. It all depends on her mood.” “Do you mean even when she has sent for them?” “Oh, who can tell whether she has sent for them or not?” “But she sent for me, you know,” Hyacinth declared, staring down and struck with the odd effect of Madame Grandoni’s wig in that bird’s-eye view. “Oh yes, she sent for you, poor young man!” The old lady looked up at him with a smile and they communicated a little in silence. Then she added: “Captain Sholto has come like that more than once and has gone away no better off.” “Captain Sholto?” Hyacinth repeated. “Very true, if we talk at this distance I must shut the door.” She retraced her course while he watched her, and pushed it to, then advanced into the room again with her superannuated, shuffling step, walking as if her shoes were too big for her. Hyacinth, moreover, descended the ladder. “There it is. She’s a _capricciosa_.” “I don’t understand how you speak of her,” Hyacinth remarked gravely. “You seem her friend, yet you say things not favourable to her.” “Dear young man, I say much worse to her about herself than I should ever say to you. I’m rude, oh yes—even to you, to whom, no doubt, I ought to be particularly kind. But I’m not false. That’s not our German nature. You’ll hear me some day. I _am_ the friend of the Princess; it would be well enough if she never had a worse one! But I should like to be yours too—what will you have? Perhaps it’s of no use. At any rate here you are.” “Yes, here I am decidedly!” Hyacinth uneasily laughed. “And how long shall you stay? Pardon me if I ask that; it’s part of my rudeness.” “I shall stay till to-morrow morning. I must be at my work by noon.” “That will do very well. Don’t you remember, the other time, how I told you to remain faithful?” “That was very good advice. But I think you exaggerate my danger.”