The Princess repeated the words to herself with a shiver, and the tears ran down her cheeks.
The parrot, turning himself in his ring, suddenly gave a loud and hoarse cry, as if tired of the silence.
William glanced up at him, then round at the Princess, who was hastily drying her eyes.
“I must be returning,” he said.
“So soon?” she asked in a trembling voice. “Such a little while, and we have talked nothing but politics—will you not stay to dinner?”
“Madame, I cannot—I am forbidden to be long abroad without M. Van Ghent,” answered William sombrely. “And since I do not choose to ask a favour or incur the suspicions of M. de Witt I am as restricted as a prisoner.”
The Princess rose, raising moist and appealing eyes.
“You only came to tell me I had angered you!” she complained.
“I came to discover what M. de Witt had said, Madame. I do not blame you; there is no use in thinking of it any more, only, I entreat you, do not see him again.”
“Since he is more than a match for me?” sighed the Princess. “Ah, you know a great deal for your age.”