to throw dust in my eyes. At the same time, his
highness appeared to speak with the candor of a man who
has partaken, not excessively, you understand, but I
may say freely, of the pleasures of the table."

He looked steadily first at one lady and then at the
other, to let this point sink in.

"And what did the Prince say?" asked the Baroness,
who, in spite of her supreme confidence in her husband,
showed a certain eager nervousness inseparable from a
judicial inquiry.

"He told me--I merely give you his word, and
not my own opinion; you perfectly understand that,
Baroness?"

"Oh yes," she answered hurriedly.

"He informed me that, in fact, the Baron had been
obliged to ask for a fortnight's leave of absence to
attend to some very pressing and private business in
connection with his Silesian estates."

"I think, Alicia, we may take that as final," said
her mother decisively.

"Indeed _I_ shan't!" cried Alicia warmly. "That
was just an excuse, of course. Rudolph's business is
so very delicate that--that--well, that you could only