“Where is the maid?”
“In the kitchen.”
“Is the man within hearing?”
“No.”
“Good! Is the princess upstairs?”
“She is, Milord.”
I made him direct me to the room, and left him. I thought I would neglect the maid, and go straight to work. I went up to the door to which I had been directed, and knocked.
“Come in!” said the gentle, childlike voice.
I went in. The princess was lying on a sofa by the fire, reading a paper-covered book. She turned her head with a careless glance.