"Your grace must be mistaken. This is Captain Woodville's first visit to Czernova. When and where could the princess have seen him?"
"Where? Why not in Dalmatia? Ah! light at last," muttered Bora, grinding his teeth and gripping his sabre-hilt with a murderous look towards the distant Paul.
"Your grace, explain."
"Why did Natalie extend her stay in Dalmatia from three to six months? There is the cause," he added, indicating Paul.
"A secret amour with him at a time when she was affianced to you! You wrong the princess," said Radzivil coldly.
"Wait!" exclaimed the duke, excitement gleaming from his eyes. "Why did she return so melancholy in mood that I almost doubted whether she were the lively Natalie of former days? There is the cause!" he added, again indicating Paul.
"Your grace, this is midsummer madness."
"Before that ill-starred tour she was ever ready to marry me; now, she continually defers our nuptials. Why? There is the cause!" with the same gesture as before. "She clothes her corps du garde in a new uniform. Why? To do honor to her hero—her lover."
"Her lover?" dissented Radzivil. "And yet she has kept him at a distance for two years?"
"She knows that my sword is sharp, and that I brook no rivals. Who aspires to the princess answers to me. Ha! her desire for an Anti-duelling Act is now explained. The measure is to enable her lover to walk securely in Czernova. She would protect him from my sword. She thinks he may safely venture here now. She has doubtless been corresponding with him since her return from Dalmatia, their common friend, Trevisa, acting as intermediary, being well qualified for such office. To an affianced princess engaged in a clandestine affaire du cœur, an adept at cipher-writing is a very useful auxiliary."