The Cardinal was now truly distressed. His much boasted of discretion had received a very severe blow, and he was not at all confident but that this enigmatical woman would not take some unpleasant small revenge, such as she threatened.
“Believe me, chère madame,” he ventured to say at last, “that nothing but the most solemn promise to his Majesty prevented my telling you from the first, all that you wished to know. Madame Demidoff’s powers of guessing riddles are too widely known for any poor diplomat like myself, to attempt to battle against them. I can but throw myself, conquered as I am, entirely at your mercy.”
“I will be generous to your Eminence,” she said, once more captivating and coquettish; “now that my whim is gratified, I can afford to be merciful, but on one condition only——”
“And that is?”
“That you tell me what it is you are taking over to the Princess as a gift from her exalted admirer; it cannot be merely a billet doux, for the post would have been almost as safe as your Eminence. Is it some rare and valuable gift? Diamonds? Pearls? or objets d’art?”
“It is, indeed, a most rare, not to say unique gift,” said the Cardinal, now completely subjugated and resigned; “so absolutely valuable, that no diamonds or pearls could ever have purchased them.”
“Ah?”
“Madame, remember I am at your mercy, you will consider this in the light of a state secret.”
“Have I ever been known to betray any secrets?” she asked impatiently.
“So long as I have your promise——”