"You knew it? How could you have known it?" asked Maurice, eagerly.
"I saw her car—ar—arriage at the door."
"Her carriage? She has a carriage of her own, then?" inquired the count.
"Yes, and the most superb horses in Washington."
"You knew, then, that she was here?" cried Maurice, with emotion; "you knew it, and you never told us?"
"I knew it, but I was forbidden to tell you. I hoped you would meet; I felt sure you would. I did not know how or when; but, from the moment you put your foot in this city, I looked for this meeting. I was strongly impelled to bring it about, but my promise withheld me."
"Of course, you could not break a promise; that explanation is quite satisfactory," remarked Bertha. "I am sure you would have given us a hint but for your promise."
"I almost gave one in spite of it. I found it harder to keep silent than I used to find it to speak; and that was difficult enough."
"But have the goodness to unravel to us this grand mystery," demanded the count. "Madeleine is married—married to Count Orlowski, the Russian ambassador."