I could only gaze in bewilderment.
"Tell the Prince who I am," she cried, with a roguish laugh; and then, as I still stood silent, she courtesied again to the ground before him.
"René, only daughter of the Compte de Pontiers, may it please your Highness," she murmured.
He would have taken her to his arms in a rush of delight, but she ceremoniously waved him back.
"Present us with all due form and etiquette, madame."
It was a strange introduction, for three times did they bow with court formality to each other, and then the rustic lovers came to life again, and he clasped her in his arms.
"If you knew he was such an exalted personage, and knew me not to be a poor actress upon a visit, as I pretended," René cried, turning towards me, "why did you insist that I must break away from happiness because of my position? Surely we are what our world calls eligibles?"
And while I, in a generous instant, would have confessed the whole truth, a flush came over her face.
"My father must never know of this foolish masquerade," she said, gravely.
"You never met Prince Ferdinand until two minutes since," I answered. "Is it not so? We will say that his Highness's infatuation for an actress died the natural death of most infatuations; and then, a little later, make known his coming alliance with no less a lady than René, daughter of the Compte de Pontiers."