Captain Pertinax had not reported the whole of his proceedings; for when Penelophon entered her mistress's boudoir, to which Héloise had been conducted in state, the Queen noticed she wore a strange ornament of gold upon her head, and asked her what it was.
"It is the Beggar Emperor's crown," she said, looking down and blushing.
"But where did you get it from?" asked the Queen.
"My Pertinax took it and gave it me," answered Penelophon; and then with a shy smile went on, "He said if Trecenito's wife were a Queen, his bride was worthy to be an Empress. So he crowned me with the Emperor's crown; and—and he crowned me with kisses too."
"Then you love him," cried the Queen, looking up fondly at her handmaid.
"He is very kind," said Penelophon; "but while you are here for me to love I think I can never love another."
Then Héloise felt a guilty pang like the King, and resolved to deserve the measureless love of the two hearts she had won.
Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty,
at the Edinburgh University Press.