"Ah!" cried the Prince, "it will never be darker than at this moment, and think, my darling, how long I have waited!"
There was no reply.
"Stand inside the window," whispered the Prince. As she did so a coil of rope fell on the balcony.
"Have you got it?" he asked.
"Yes," was the scarcely audible reply.
"Then don't trust to your own strength. Give it a turn around the balcony rail."
"I have done so," she whispered.
Although he could not see her because of the darkness, she saw him silhouetted against the night sky.
He tested the loop, putting his foot in it and pulling at the rope with both hands. Then he put the rope round the corner support of the balcony.
"Are you sure the rope is strong enough?" she asked. "Who bought it?"