"Is it a game, this?" he asked softly. "You press the button and the little girl appears. That means that I increase the stakes and the prize pops up."
The Princess rose to her feet. She crossed the room to meet Jeanne with outstretched arms.
"Shut up, you fool!" she said to the Count in passing. "Jeanne my child," she added, "is it really you?"
Jeanne accepted the proffered embrace, without enthusiasm. She recognized the Count, however, with a little wave of colour.
"Yes," she said quietly, "I have come back. I am sorry I went away. It was a mistake, a great mistake."
"You have driven us nearly wild with anxiety," the Princess declared. "Where have you been to?"
"Yes!" the Count echoed, fixing his eyes upon her, "where have you been to?"
Jeanne behaved with a composure which astonished them both. She calmly unbuttoned her gloves and seated herself in the easy-chair.
"I have been to Salthouse," she said.
"What! back to the Red Hall?" the Princess exclaimed.