"Be very close, Coronel," she whispered, and then they walked out together.
If any of the servants at the Palace were surprised to see Coronel, they did not show it. After all, that was their business.
"Prince Coronel will be staying here," said the Princess. "Prepare a room for him and some refreshment for us both." And if they discussed those things in the servants' halls of those days (as why should they not?), no doubt they told each other that the Princess Hyacinth (bless her pretty face!) had found her man at last. Why, you only had to see her looking at him. But I get no assistance from Roger at this point; he pretends that he has a mind far above the gossip of the lower orders.
"I say," said Coronel, as they went up the grand staircase, "I am not a Prince, you know. Don't say I have deceived you."
"You are my Prince," said Hyacinth proudly.
"My dear, I am a king among men to-day, and you are my queen, but that's in our own special country of two."
"If you are so particular," said Hyacinth, with a smile, "Father will make you a proper Prince directly he comes back."
"Will he? That's what I'm wondering. You see he doesn't know yet about our little present to the Countess."
* * * * *
But it is quite time we got back to Belvane; we have left her alone too long. It was more than Udo did. Just now he was with her in her garden, telling her for the fifth time an extraordinarily dull story about an encounter of his with a dragon, apparently in its dotage, to which Belvane was listening with an interest which surprised even the narrator.