"And I?" asked Worth.
"Oh, you can be her Highness' private secretary and attend to the correspondence."
The laughter which followed this was light-hearted and careless. Once more worry had taken to wing and they were without burdens. Only La Signorina did not join the merriment. The sparks in her eyes, the silver points of light, the flash of excitement, portended something. She rose with a determined air.
"Mr. O'Mally makes a very good suggestion. It will be an adventure worth recounting. I shall go as the princess. What sport with the country gentlemen! This will be an adventure after one's own heart. Her Highness commands! Will it not be delightful?"
Worth looked at O'Mally, who looked at Smith, who looked at Kitty; then all four looked at La Signorina.
"Are you not lightening our trials by joking?" asked Worth dubiously.
"I am positively serious."
"Impossible! It would be nothing less than madness to fly in the face of this stroke of luck."
"Call it madness, if you like. I shall go as the princess."
"But the authorities! It will be prison."