“Can I say good-bye to Prince Ercole? Send and ask if he can see me.”
“What shall I tell him?”
“The first thing that comes into your head: that a friend of mine in Rome is ill, that I am going to look after her and that Van der Staal is taking me back because I am nervous travelling. I don’t care what Prince Ercole thinks.”
“Cornélie....”
“Darling, I really haven’t another moment. Kiss me and forgive me. And think of me sometimes. Good-bye. We have had a delightful time together and I have grown very fond of you.”
She tore herself from Urania’s embrace; Duco also said good-bye. They left the princess sobbing by herself. In the passage they met Gilio.
“Where are you going?” he asked, in his humble voice.
“We are going by the ten twenty-five.”
“I am very, very sorry....”
But they went on and left him standing there, while Urania sat sobbing in the drawing-room.