ry well," the Count said, "all very well indeed, but I
do not understand how it is that a young lady could disappear from her
home like this, and that her guardian should know nothing about it.
Where could she have gone to? You say that she had very little money.
Why should she go? Who was unkind to her?"

"All that I did," the Princess answered, "was to tell her that she must
marry you."

The Count twirled his moustache.

"Is it likely," he demanded, "that that should drive her away from her
home? The idea of marriage, it may terrify these young misses at the
first thought, but in their hearts they are very, very glad. Ah!" he
added softly, "I have had some experience. I am not a boy."

The Princess looked at him. Whatever her thoughts may have been, her
face remained inscrutable.

"No!" the Count continued, drawing his chair a little nearer to the
Princess' couch, and leaning towards her, "I do not believe that it was
the fear of marriage which drove little Jeanne to disappear."

"Then what do you believe, my dear Count?" the Princess asked.

His eyes seemed to narrow.

"Perhaps," he said significantly, "you may have thought that with her
great fortune, and seeing me a little foolish for her, that you had not
driven quite a good enough bargain, eh?"

"You insulting beast!" the Princess remarked.

The Count grinned. He was in no way annoyed.

"Ah!" he said. "I am a man whom it is not easy to deceive. I have seen
very much of the world, and I know the ways of women. A woman who wants
money, my dear Princess, is very, very clever, and not too honest."

"Your experiences, Count," the Princess said, "may be interesting, but
I do not see how they concern me."

"But they might concern you," the Count said, "if I were to speak
plainly; if, for instance, I were to double that little amount we spoke
of."

"Do you mean to insinuate," the Princess remarked, "that I know where
Jeanne is now? That it is I who have put her out of the way for a
little time, in order to make a better bargain with you?"

The Count bowed his head.

"A very clever scheme," he declared, "a very clever scheme indeed."

The Princess drew a little breath. Then she looked at the Count and
suddenly laughed. After all, it was not worth while to be angry with
such a creature. Besides, if Jeanne should turn up, she might as well
have the extra money.

"You give me credit, I fear," she said, "for being a cleverer woman
than I am, but as a ma