Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

A ROMA ACE 213
speedily farther and fainter into silence. The
Prince was gone.
Madame von Eosen consulted her watch. She
had still, she thought, time enough for the tit-
l)it of her evening ; and hurrying to the palace,
winged by the fear of Gondremark's arrival, she
sent her name and a pressing request for a
reception to the Princess Seraphina. As the
Countess von Eosen unqualified, she was sure
to be refused ; but as an emissar}- of the Baron's,
for so she chose to style herself, she gained
immediate entry.
The Princess sat alone at table, making a
feint of dining. Her cheeks were mottled, her
eyes heavy ; she had neither slept nor eaten ;
even her dress had been neglected. In short,
she was out of health, out of looks, out of heart,
and hag-ridden by her conscience. The Countess
drew a swift comparison, and shone brighter in
beauty.
' You come, madam, de la part de Monsieur
le Baron^' drawled the Princess. ' Be seated !
What have you to say ? '
' To say P ' repeated ]\Iadame von Eosen. ' 0,
much to say ! Much to say, that I would rather
not, and much to leave unsaid that I Avould
rather say. For I am like St. Paul, your High-
ness, and always wish to do the things I should
not. Well I to be catei:^orical — that is the