“Then you will send him to Rome?” she asked, unable to conceal her eagerness.
“If he will present himself at the Ministry, he will be at once appointed to the Embassy to the Quirinal,” responded his Excellency quietly.
“But he will not present himself, I am afraid.”
“Oh, why not?” inquired the great Austrian diplomatist, regarding her in surprise.
“Because—” and she hesitated, as a slight flush crossed her features—“because he is rather ashamed to ask for a second appointment, having resigned from London.”
The old Minister smiled dubiously.
“Ah!” he exclaimed confidentially, “I quite understand. Your Imperial Highness wishes to get rid of him from your Court, eh?”
The Princess started, twisting her diamond bracelet nervously round her wrist.
“Why do you think that, Count?” she asked quickly, surprised that he should have thus divined her motive.
“Well, your Imperial Highness is rather unduly interested in the man—if you will permit me to say so,” was his answer. “Besides, if I may speak frankly, as I know I may, I have regarded his presence in your Court as distinctly dangerous—for you. There are, you know, evil tongues ever ready to invent scandal, even against a Crown Princess.”