"But, princess, I will see you home," protested the latter, somewhat surprised by her tone.
"No—I will take a servant back with me. Will you be good enough to leave us?" she asked almost haughtily, as Gouache still lingered.
He had no choice but to obey her commands, though for some time he could not explain to himself the cause of the princess's behaviour.
"Goodnight, Madame. Good-night, Mademoiselle," he said, quietly. Then with a low bow he turned away and disappeared in the darkness. In five minutes he had reached the bridge, running at the top of his speed, and he regained his post without his absence having been observed.
When the two women were alone, Corona laid her hand upon Faustina's shoulder and looked down into the girl's face.
"Faustina, my child," she said, "how could you be led into such a wild scrape?"
"Why did you treat him so unkindly?" asked the young girl with flashing eyes. "It was cruel and unkind—"
"Because he deserved it," answered Corona, with rising anger. "How could he dare—from my house—a mere child like you—-"
"I do not know what you imagine," said Faustina in a tone of deep resentment. "I followed him to the Serristori barracks, and I fainted when they were blown up. He found me and brought me to you, because he said I could not go back to my father's house with him. If I love him what is that to you?"
"It is a great deal to me that he should have got you into this trouble."