"Unfortunately, it was quite true. An attempt was made to arrest her."
"Herr Bastable! You don’t mean it!" Surprise, no other feeling in this. No grief, no concern even. "Whatever for?" As if it had been Althea’s fault.
"It was on your account," I said bluntly. "Because of the mistake you have allowed people to make in regard to the Prince von Graven."
She was not in the least embarrassed. "So you know that. I am so glad. It is such a relief not to have to keep these tiresome secrets from one’s friends. I couldn’t tell you before, could I? You see, it was Althea’s secret as much as mine. And the Prince’s, too. He is so devoted to me. And such a sweet man."
"You don’t appear to grasp the real gravity of the matter, I’m afraid."
"Oh, that is unkind! Of course I do. I wouldn’t have dear Althea get into any trouble on my account for the world!"
"Then of course you will let the truth as to the Prince be known at once."
"Herr Bastable!" Eyes, expression, voice, gestures, everything eloquent of indignant surprise at the suggestion. "Why, then they might arrest me!"
"On the contrary, the Prince is eager to marry you at once."
"But my voice. My début! You don’t understand. Herr Grumpel declares that I shall make such a reputation as----" She threw up her hands as though it were impossible to estimate the fame awaiting her. "How can you be so cruel? Besides, it would ruin the Prince with the Emperor. You would not have him ruined just for poor little me!"
I was fast losing patience. "It is rather a question whether you are to ruin Fräulein Althea by keeping silence."
Her features drew together as if she were going to cry. "Do you mean that Althea wishes this? That she would selfishly sacrifice my future in this way?"
"She may be in very serious danger if it should be known that she is the daughter of Baron von Ringheim."
"But who is likely to tell that?" she asked with an air of quite artless innocence; and then added quickly: "Besides, in that case it would be of no use to say anything about the Prince."
It was useless to break oneself against the wall of such selfishness as this, so I tried a different argument. "Let me show you one way in which you can turn this matter to your own great advantage." All sign of tears passed away instantly. "Your future depends upon your securing the favour of the Court. Now, if you were to submit yourself to the Emperor’s will in the matter of the Imperial marriage and sacrifice your wishes in regard to the Prince because you have just heard of the Imperial desires, His Majesty would highly appreciate your self-sacrifice; the whole country would ring with your romantic self-denial; and you would gain a bigger advertisement for your début than any singer ever enjoyed in this Empire."