"Do you know," said I, "that it is after midnight?"
"I know it is. But as long as others don't know you are here, what does it matter, Michael?"
"Of course," I muttered, "you and I know there's no cause for scandal."
Her delightful laughter welled up from the whitest throat I have ever seen, but she instantly suppressed it.
"We're very indiscreet," she said mockingly; "we've exchanged hearts and we're here in my bedroom at midnight. Can you imagine what that queen downstairs would say?"
"Had you meant to kidnap her, also?" I inquired.
"No," she said scornfully. "The Allies can take care of the Hohenzollern litter after they take the sty."
"Berlin," I nodded.
"Berlin. Hercules had no such task in his Augean stable. It was Hercules, wasn't it, Michael? I always get him and his labors mixed up with Theseus. But the Prince of Argolis used address, not bull force.... His mother's name was Æthra.... My mother's name was Æthra, too."
"That is Greek."