I went at her bidding and stood by the rail.
"Prince Jerome Bonaparte wants to see you. I have told him about the bear pen, and Madame Tank, and the mysterious marks on you, and what she said about your rank."
I must have frowned, for the young gentleman made a laughing sign to me that he did not take Annabel seriously. He had an amiable face, and accepted me as one of the oddities of the country.
"What fun," said Annabel, "to introduce a prince of the empire to a prince of the woods!"
"What do you think of your brother?" I inquired.
He looked astonished and raised his eyebrows.
"I suppose you mean the emperor?"
I told him I did.
"If you want my candid opinion," his eyes twinkled, and he linked his hands around his white satin knees, "I think my brother rules his family with a rod of iron."
"What will you do," I continued, "when your family are turned out?"