I bowed and was about to withdraw when she beckoned me back.
"Monsieur," she said in low, grave tones, "of course, it is understood that everything touching this is strictly between ourselves."
She indicated my letter, which she had just drawn from one pocket of her black, full-skirted jacket.
I bowed again.
"This evening, then, Monsieur Vignerte, and if you would do me a last kindness, please go out as quietly as you possibly can, so as not to scare away the thrushes."
I returned to the palace by a circuitous route, along the Melna. A kingfisher skimmed backwards and forwards over the darkening water. It was of the same colour as the emerald I had just noticed on the white finger of Aurora of Lautenburg-Detmold.
* * * * * *
The Grand Duchess's bridge-table was set in a curious little Louis Quinze salon on the first floor. Two Bouchers, a Largillière and an excellent Watteau were its best features. Flowers, masses of flowers, everywhere.
Remembering that Hagen would be there, I had made a special point of not arriving first. Indeed, it was a quarter to ten when I knocked at the door of Aurora of Lautenburg.
It was Melusine who opened it.