And as suddenly she stopped, stricken dumb by the sound of her own words.
The Prince turned his head full upon her. He saw a face all suffused with hot blushes, haughtiest pride struggling with angry tears in eyes that fairly blazed upon him, and a slender figure drawn up into an attitude of defiance—at sight of all which something took him instantly by the throat.
"You mean—you mean——" he stammered, and for a moment was silent. "For God's sake, tell me what you mean!"
"I mean nothing at all!" said Joan, stamping her foot in anger.
And turning upon her heel she left him standing fixed in wonder and doubt upon the margin of the sea.
Then the wife of Louis, Prince of Courtland, walked eastward to the house upon the Isle Rugen with her face set as sternly as for battle, but her nether lip quivering—while Conrad, Cardinal and Prince of Holy Church, paced slowly to the west with a bitter and downcast look upon his ordinarily so sunny countenance.
For Fate had been exceeding cruel to these two.