"A hateful woman," said Hyacinth. "What shall we do with her?"
"I think," said Udo, "that I had better speak to her seriously first. I have no doubt that I can drag from her the truth of her conspiracy against you. There may be others in it, in which case we shall have to proceed with caution; on the other hand, it may be just misplaced zeal on her part, in which case——"
"Was it misplaced zeal which made her turn you into a——?"
Udo held up his hand hastily.
"I have not forgotten that," he said. "Be sure that I shall exact full reparation. Let me see; which is the way to her garden?"
Hyacinth did not know quite what to make of her guest. At the moment when she first saw him in his proper form the improvement on his late appearance had been so marked that he had seemed almost the handsome young Prince of her dreams. Every minute after that had detracted from him. His face was too heavy, his manner was too pompous; one of these days he would be too fat.
Moreover he was just a little too sure of his position in her house. She had wanted his help, but she did not want so much of it as she seemed to be likely to get.
Udo, feeling that it was going to be rather a nice day, went into Belvane's garden. He had been there once before; it seemed to him a very much prettier garden this morning, and the woman who was again awaiting him much more desirable.
Belvane made room for him on the seat next to her.
"This is where I sit when I write my poetry," she said. "I don't know if your Royal Highness is fond of poetry?"