“Surely, dear, the soldiers love you,” he said.
“They seem to,”—then out flashed the smile again; “but there is only one I’m sure of,” leaning over close.
“You little temptress!” he said, “I’ve a great mind to prove it now.”
She laughed merrily. “You may—but catch me first;” and as her horse had the heels of his, she never let him get quite on even terms, no matter what the pace.
“Come, dear,” he said, “I’ll promise to wait until we are at the Castle.”
“As you wish—but the bend in the road yonder would have hid the others, and there I was—but until the Castle, then.”
And when Armand promised double punishment later, she tossed her head, and told him she was always ready to pay for her crimes—and sometimes rather willing.
As they turned from the valley road into the avenue, they came face to face with the Duke of Lotzen and Count Bigler, both in full uniform.
The Princess was passing on, with a curt return of their salutes, when the Duke drew around in front of her.
“Your Royal Highness and myself seem to be unfortunate in our visits to each other,” he said; “I missed yours the other evening, and now you have missed mine.”