“Go, go!” she cried, “and save your master and save us too!”
“Yes,” said the princess gravely, “there is no time to lose, master goldsmith!”
It was hard to go, but I knew also that time was precious; I concealed the miniature on my person, and bowed profoundly to the two young girls.
“To hear you is to obey, Princess,” I said, looking straight into her eyes, and she blushed furiously and dropped her veil over her face.
“Then go, sir,” she said imperiously.
“At once, mademoiselle,” I replied, and turned away.
I had gone, perhaps, ten or twenty yards, when I heard the patter of feet behind, and Lissa came running after me.
“Do not mind her,” she panted. “Daria is not really cross, only she will play the princess. But, oh, do smooth the matter over with that dreadful czarevna, for it was all my fault! I gave the trinket to Galitsyn; you know he is half mad with love of Daria? Oh, there! I have told too much——” She clapped her hands over her rosy lips, her eyes dancing.
We heard the princess calling sharply: “Lissa, Lissa!”
“I come, I come!” cried the girl and to me, “there—do, do it, sir, do help us!”