I did not tell him how much the Princess had interested me, and that it was the light of sadness deep down in her eyes, which had escaped him, that made me wish to clear up the mystery and help her if I could. If she were a masquerader what a terrible life she had before her. I pitied her.
"Surely," I said, "the good General had some serious reason for bringing you back."
"Serious he may think it," said Nick, "but I see no reason for coupling my return with the General's suspicions of Dhalmatia. I think, from what I saw this morning, that Duke Marbosa had more to do with it."
"I suppose you would not entertain the thought for a moment that the Prince and the Princess were the same person?"
Nick looked at me as if I were suddenly become a madman. Then he threw back his head and laughed so loud and long that I, feeling uncomfortably small, shook him to make him stop. His answer I thought most curious.
"Great heavens, Dale, this is Bharbazonia."
"All the more reason for believing it possible," I retorted.
He laughed again.
"Oh, no," he said, "you have reckoned without the Church."
"Come now, Nick, answer me straight. Cease talking in riddles. What has the Church got to do with it?"