“I see that I am about to astonish you. What should you say if I were to tell you that I have discovered that my nephew is in love?”
In spite of his habitual caution, the old Count could not resist the impulse to turn and look at his daughter, who, on her part, utterly failed to conceal her embarrassment from the keen eyes of the Princess. Before either of them could speak, Hermengarde followed up her thrust.
“Come, I see that I have surprised you both. Yet I should have thought that you, at least, Gertrude, would have noticed something.”
“I, Madam?” The unfortunate girl could say no more, so completely did she feel herself at the mercy of her royal tormentor.
“Yes, come; you are not going to pretend that you know nothing about my nephew’s feelings. Why, it is not two months since the whole Court believed that he had lost his heart to you.”
The Chancellor felt it was time for him to come to his daughter’s rescue.
“Surely your Royal Highness is jesting? My daughter would never dare to entertain such an idea. Every one knows that a king of Franconia must marry in his own rank.”
Hermengarde shrugged her shoulders.
“Kings of Franconia do strange things sometimes,” she retorted with significance. “But I see that you are both in the dark. Yet this affair has been going on now for several weeks, though it has only come to my knowledge within the last few days.”
Gertrude made an effort to rally her courage and take part in the conversation.