"Madam," said the dwarf, fixing his eyes on hers, "we both know the name of the person who wounded Don John, very well indeed, I regret that I should not be able to recall it at this moment. His Highness has forgotten it too, I am sure."
The Princess's expression did not change, but she returned his gaze steadily during several seconds, and then nodded slowly to show that she understood. Then she looked away and was silent for a moment.
"I am sorry I was rough with you, Adonis," she said at last, thoughtfully. "It was hard to believe you at first, and if the Prince had been dead, as we all believed, your jesting would have been abominable. There,"--she unclasped a diamond brooch from her bodice--"take that, Adonis--you can turn it into money."
The Princess's financial troubles were notorious, and she hardly ever possessed any ready gold.
"I shall keep it as the most precious of my possessions," answered the dwarf readily.
"No," she said quickly. "Sell it. The King--I mean--some one may see it if you keep it."
"It shall be sold to-morrow, then," replied the jester, bending his head to hide his smile, for he understood what she meant.
"One thing more," she said; "Don John did not send you down to tell this news to the court without warning. He meant that I should know it before any one else. You have told me--now go away and do not tell others."
Adonis hesitated a moment. He wished to do Don John's bidding if he could, but he knew his danger, and that he should be forgiven if, to save his own head, he did not execute the commission. The Princess wished an immediate answer, and she had no difficulty in guessing the truth.
"His Highness sent you to find Doña Dolores," she said. "Is that not true?"