“Leaving Florence!” she gasped. “What do you mean, Jack?”
“I mean that I must do so—for your sake,” was his answer. “The world does not believe that a woman can have a man friend. I—I yesterday heard something.”
“What?”
“That the Prince has set close watch upon us.”
“Well, and what of that? Do we fear?”
“We do not fear the truth, Princess. It is the untruth of which we are in peril.”
“Then Ferdinand is jealous!” she remarked as though speaking to herself. “Ah! that is distinctly amusing!”
“My friendship with you has already caused a scandal in this gossip-loving city,” he pointed out. “It is best for you that we should part. Remember the difference in our stations. You are of blood-royal—while I—” and he hesitated. How could he tell her the ghastly truth?
She was silent for a few moments, her beautiful face very grave and thoughtful. Well, alas! she knew that if this man left her side the sun of her young life would have set for ever.
“But—but Jack—you are my friend, are you not?”