The thought of a youthful and royal Scipio was not displeasing to her vanity; and to play Cleopatra to an Augustus of seventeen seemed to the Duchess both safe and amusing.
She turned her languishing eyes on de Pomponne’s handsome, indolent face.
“Get me a ticket for the ball at the Binnenhof, Monseigneur,” she said.
CHAPTER XI
THE BALL IN THE BINNENHOF
“You are disappointed?” inquired Mr. Bromley.
Florent Van Mander answered slowly—
“I should have liked to stay in the Hague.”
“But you see it is impossible,” the Englishman assured him, with frank friendliness. “M. de Witt hath already spoken to His Highness about the harbouring of any who forsake his service,—and, indeed, the Prince is scarcely free to choose his household.”