"Oh, no. They were going the other way, toward Metz, and perhaps only one was a real prince."
"Maybe this prince had seen enough of battles?"
"I cannot say. I saw him only once. He was a large man, middle-aged, and he had a great brown beard."
John's whole body stiffened. Questions leaped to his lips, but he compelled his muscles to relax and by a great effort he assumed a tone of indifference.
"What was the prince's name?" he asked with apparent carelessness.
"I don't know, but the people around him were as respectful to him as if he were a king. There were two women with him, but the master himself served these two alone in their room."
"But you caught a glimpse of one of the women, the younger, Annette?" said Johanna.
"So I did, but it was only a glimpse."
"What did she look like?" asked John, who was trying to keep down the beating of his heart.
"It was only a second, but I saw a face that I will never forget. She was very pale, but she had beautiful blue eyes like stars, and the most lovely golden hair that ever grew in the world."