[Josephine obeys.]

Prince

[Stepping into the room so befogged with his own agitation as to have no room left for astonishment at the presence of the Queen.]

Josephine, your Majesty, are you quite sure——

Duchess

My dear Charles, do you think I am in the habit of not noticing the intrusion of perfectly strange women into my apartment at night?

Prince

Then you saw no one?

[Duchess smiles enigmatically.]