"Let the Chancellor do that," said she. "I can see he is dying to. And as he has taken a great deal of trouble, he deserves some reward."
"I have already informed His Imperial Majesty that he would find with the Prince Miss Minnie Brand, an English actress"—the old man bowed, sneering—"justly famous for her talents."
"And His Majesty. What does he say?" The girl's voice sounded anxious now, even wistful. She still stood beside the Prince, but her eyes so appealed to Maximilian's that he could not withhold them, granting her at last a cold and fixed regard.
"I say nothing," he answered. "You have left me nothing to say. You are the Prince's friend. You do not need anything that I can give."
"Yet last night," she cried, "you said you loved me." 307
"Is this the place to remind me of that?" he demanded fiercely.
"Yes; because I came here hoping that you would follow. I do care for the Prince; I should be very ungrateful if I didn't; but I care far more for you."
The boldness of the announcement, its astounding impertinence, coming as it did, when and where it did, was like a smart box upon the ear, literally staggering Maximilian. Sparks danced before his eyes. He opened his lips to answer her with deadly bitterness, but did not speak. With one look, that pent-up all the passion of outraged love, and a fury of disappointment that was and must ever be unutterable, he turned upon his heel.
"You would go and leave me here?" exclaimed the girl.
He wheeled round in the doorway. "I am not sure how to address you," he said, "since you no longer claim the name by which I have thought of you, nor do I seem any longer to know you. But if there be the 308 slightest doubt in your mind as to your desire to stay here, I—Count von Markstein and—I would gladly place our carriage at your service."