"There can be no doubt," he said, "but—" with an expressive shrug.
"Life would run smoother if it had fewer 'buts' and 'its' and 'perhapses.' What you would say," said I, "is that there are no proofs. Certainly they must be somewhere."
"But to find them!" cried he.
"I shall make the effort; the pursuit is interesting."
The expression in his eyes told me that he had formed an opinion in regard to my part. "Ah, these journalists!" as he passed on.
Everything seemed so near and yet so far. Proofs? Where could they be found if Wentworth had them not? If only there had been a trinket, a kerchief, even, with the Hohenphalian crest upon it! I shook my fists in despair. Gretchen was so far away, so far!
I went in search of her. She was still surrounded by men. The women were not as friendly toward her as they might have been. The Prince was standing near. Seeing me approach, his teeth gleamed for an instant.
"Ah," said Gretchen, "here is Herr Winthrop, who is to take me in to supper."
It was cleverly done, I thought. Even the Prince was of the same mind. He appreciated all these phases. As we left them and passed in toward the supper room, I whispered:
"I love you!"