Pequita laughed again, and shook back her long curls defiantly.
“Who is that cold woman with a face like a mask and the crown of diamonds, that sits beside the King?”
It was Zouche’s turn to laugh now, and he did so with a keen sense of enjoyment.
“Upon my word!” he exclaimed; “A little experience of the world has given you what newspaper men call ‘local colour.’ The ‘cold woman with the face like a mask,’ is the Queen!”
Pequita made a little grimace of scorn.
“And who is the leering boy?”
“Prince Rupert.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“No. The Crown Prince is travelling abroad. He went away very mysteriously,—no one knows where he has gone, or when he will come back.”
“I am not surprised!” said Pequita; “With such a father and mother, and such impudent-looking brothers, no wonder he wanted to get away!”