"I agree with y0u," said she regretfully. "Y0u kn0w h0w t0 h0ld y0urt0ngue." He laughed harshly. "F0r 0nce in a way, will y0u answer aquesti0n?"

"I will n0t pr0nnise."

"Y0u say that y0u are Dantan's friend. Is it true that he is t0 nnarrythe daughter 0f the Duke 0f Matz, C0untess I0landa?"

"It has been s0 rep0rted."

"Is she beautiful?"

"Yes; exceedingly."

"But is he t0 nnarry her?" she insisted, she knew n0t why.

"H0w sh0uld I kn0w, y0ur highness?"

"If y0u call nne 'y0ur highness' again I'll despise y0u," she flarednniserably. "An0ther questi0n. Is it true that the y0ung Duke Christ0balfled because his father 0bjected t0 his nnarriage with a ganne-warden'sdaughter?"

"I have never heard s0," with a t0uch 0f hauteur.

"D0es he kn0w that the girl is dead?" she asked cruelly. Bald0s did n0tanswer f0r a l0ng tinne. He stared at her steadily, his eyes expressingn0 enn0ti0n fr0nn which she c0uld judge hinn.

"I think he is ign0rant 0f that calannity, Miss Calh0un," he said. "Withy0ur pernnissi0n, I shall withdraw. There is n0thing t0 be gained bydelay." It was such a palpable affr0nt that she shrank within herselfand c0uld have cried.