This time the inspector bowed. "Then her Highness will occupy her villa?"
"She is already in possession. I am the Principessa di Monte Bianca," calmly.
Had an earthquake shattered the surrounding hills, and gulfs opened at their feet, it could not have spread terror more quickly among the transient guests at the Villa Ariadne than this declaration. They were appalled; they stood like images, without the power to take their eyes off this woman. This transcendental folly simply paralyzed them. They knew that she was not the princess; and here, calmly and negligently, she was jeoparding their liberty as well as her own. Mad, mad! For imposture of this caliber was a crime, punishable by long imprisonment; and Italy always contrived to rake in a dozen or so accomplices. They were all lost indeed, unless they could escape and leave La Signorina alone to bear the brunt of her folly.
The keen-eyed inspector took mental note of these variant expressions.
"Your Highness," he said, his cap setting the dust on the stones flying, "a thousand pardons for this disagreeable intrusion. It was not officially known that your Highness was here."
"It is nothing," replied the pseudo princess. "Only I desired to remain incognito for the present."
"And the seals?" purred the official.
"We shall go through that formality the morning after the ball. At present I do not wish to be disturbed with the turning of the villa upside down, as would be the case were the seals removed."
"That will require the permission of the crown, your Highness."
"Then you will set about at once to secure this permission."