"You will pardon me," he said. "It is marked urgent," and he tore it open. His face brightened as he read it. "Monsieur le Prince," he said, warmly, turning to Markeld, "I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart!" and he handed him the message.
Markeld took the paper and glanced at it, then, with beaming eyes, held out his hand. And the duchess, looking on, grew suddenly young again!
"What is it?" she demanded. "Don't you see we are all waiting?"
"'Prince George, of Schloshold, has just died of an apoplexy,'" the Prince read. "'You will inform the Prince of Markeld that we will support his house to the limit of our power. Vernon,'"
"God be praised!" cried the duchess. "God be praised," and she caught at the door to keep herself from falling. "He was a bad man," she added in another tone. "Therefore he needs our prayers!"
"I give Monsieur le Prince the congratulations of France," said an oily voice, and Monsieur Tellier bowed low.
"Oh!" cried Nell, and shrank away from him.
"Is that the scoundrel?" demanded Cranford. And he started across the room.
"One moment," interposed the Prince, "don't soil your hands on him.
Glück!" he called, raising his voice.
And Glück appeared on the instant.