"It has, on the contrary, been said that her royal highness has always been severe in relation to me; and that, unfortunately, my poor face displeased her, and also, that she was much dissatisfied with my method of singing."
"Who on earth can have told you such falsehoods?"
"If any have been told, the king is guilty," said the young girl, with a slight tone of malice.
"It was a snare--a test of your modesty and gentleness," said the baroness, "as though I intend to prove to you that being a simple mortal, I have no right to be false, like a mighty and ill-tempered king, I wish to take you at once to the princess, that you may give her the music in person."
"And do you think, madame, that she will receive me kindly?"
"Yet, if you be mistaken, on whom will the humiliation fall?"
"On me alone: I authorise you to say everywhere, that I am proud of the princess's friendship, and that she entertains both esteem and deference for me."
"I will go with you, madame," said Consuelo, ringing for her mantle and muff. "My toilette is very simple, but you have entirely surprised me."
"You are perfectly charming, and will find the princess in a yet more simple toilette.--Come."
Porporina put the mysterious roll in her pocket, filled the carriage of the baroness with music, and followed her resolutely.
"For a man who risked his life for me," thought she, "I might run the risk of waiting in vain in the antechamber of a princess."
Having been introduced into a dressing-room she waited for five minutes, during which the abbess and her confidant exchanged these few words in the next room.
"Madame, I have brought her. She is there."
"So soon? You are an admirable ambassadress. How must I receive her? What sort of person is she?"
"Reserved, prudent, or simple. She is either intensely artful, or strangely simple."
"Oh! we will see," said the princess, the eyes of whom glittered with the influence of a mind used to penetration and distrust. "Let her come in."
During her short stay in the dressing-room, Porporina saw the strangest array of furniture which ever decorated the boudoir of a beautiful princess: spheres, compasses, astrolabes, astrological charts, vials filled with nameless mixtures and deaths-heads--in fine, all the materials of sorcery. "My friend is not mistaken," said she, "and the public knows all about the secrets of the king's sister. She does not even seem to conceal them, as she suffers me to see all this apparatus.--Well--courage!"