The Princess opened her eyes at the sound of her maid's approach. She turned
her head impatiently toward the door.
"Annette," she said coldly, "did you misunderstand me? Did I not say that I was
on no account to be disturbed this afternoon?"
Annette was the picture of despair. Eyebrows and hands betrayed alike both her
agitation of mind and her nationality.
"Madame," she said, "did I not say so to monsieur? I begged him to call again. I
told him that madame was lying down with a bad headache, and that it was as
much as my place was worth to disturb her. What did he answer? Only this. That
it would be as much as my place was worth if I did not come up and tell you that
he was here to see you on a very urgent matter. Indeed, madame, he was very,
"Of whom are you talking?" the Princess asked.
"But of Major Forrest, madame," Annette declared. "It is he who waits below."
The Princess closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly opened them. She
stretched out her hand, and from a table by her side took up a small gilt mirror.
"Turn on the lights, Annette," she commanded.
The maid illuminated the darkened room. The Princess gazed at herself in the
mirror, and reaching out again took a small powder- puff from its case and gently
dabbed her face. Then she laid both mirror and powder-puff back in their places.
"You will tell monsieur," she said, "that I am very unwell indeed, but that since he
is here and his business is urgent I will see him. Turn out the lights, Annette. I am
not fit to be seen. And move my couch a little, so."
