The Grand Duke gazed meditatively upon the Baroness, who had the grace to blush.
"Then it was," he asked, "a comedy for my benefit?"
"You would never have consented—" she began. But the Grand Duke's countenance, which was slowly altering to a greenish pallor, caused her to pause.
"You will get over it in a week, Louis," she murmured, "and you will find other—baronesses."
"Oh, very probably!" said his Highness, and he noted with pleasure that he spoke quite as if it did not matter. "Nevertheless, this was a despicable trick to play upon the Grand Duchess."
"Yet I do not think the Grand Duchess will complain," said the Baroness von
Altenburg.
And it was as though a light broke on the Grand Duke. "You planned all this beforehand?" he inquired.
"Why, precisely, your Highness."
"And de Châteauroux helped you?"
"In effect, yes, your Highness."