Chapter Twenty Eight.
The Eyewitness.
“Princess!”
“You!” she gasped, staring at him, her face white as death, and clutching at the back of a chair for support.
“Yes. I see now why you were so anxious that I should not remain in your company this evening,” he said in bitter reproach.
“Then—then you know!” she cried. “You—you saw me!”
“Yes. I have been watching you, and I can only say that I am surprised to find you tampering with His Excellency’s safe!” he said in a low, hard tone, while, as ill-luck would have it, old Ghelardi, in uniform, with a glittering star upon his coat, entered the room just at that moment and overheard part of the diplomat’s words.
“Ah!” said the crafty Chief of Secret Police, affecting not to have overheard anything. “Ah! these assignations—eh?”
She raised her hand towards him in a quick gesture, but from her glove, there fell the small key.