“I never allow myself to wonder. Your order for me to come has made me happy—that is sufficient.”
“You have no suspicion why I sent for you?”
“Your royal highness has just informed me you kindly wished to indemnify me for my two former visits.”
“You are a good diplomatist; you turn quickly about, are as smooth as an eel, cannot be taken hold of, but slip through one’s fingers. I am accustomed to go at once to the point—I cannot diplomatize. See here, why I wished to see you—I wished to show you this cup.”
She took the cup hastily from the table, and gave it to the ambassador. He gazed at it long and earnestly; he turned it around, looking at every picture, reading every verse. Amelia watched him keenly, but his countenance betrayed nothing. He was as smiling, as unembarrassed as before. When he had looked at it attentively, he placed it on the table.
“Well, what do you think of the workmanship?” said Amelia.
“It is wonderful, worthy of an artist, your royal highness.”
“And do you know by what artist it was made?”
“I suspect it, your royal highness.”
“Give me his name?”