“Yes—she sees herself the benefactress of an impoverished people.”
“The country will have a new saint!” said the countess with a mocking little laugh. “But perhaps there is still another reason.”
“You think the prince attracts her?”
“Oh, no—though she may get to like him. At present, he is just a necessary evil, since for children there must be a father! He has one quality which will appeal to her more and more—he knows how to be discreet.”
“Which reminds me,” Selden remarked, “that the explosion you expected last night did not take place.”
“No—the prince prevented it. It was that made him late.”
“He was with her?”
“Yes. He must have promised her something.”
“She knows, then?”
“Of course. Lappo has already had a talk with her.”