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"Ah, don't talk to me! Last winter she wheedled herself in here

and told the count such vile, disgraceful things about us,

especially about Sophie-I can't repeat them-that it made the

count quite ill and he would not see us for a whole fortnight. I

know it was then he wrote this vile, infamous paper, but I

thought the thing was invalid."

"We've got to it at last-why did you not tell me about it

sooner?"

"It's in the inlaid portfolio that he keeps under his pillow,"

said the princess, ignoring his question. "Now I know! Yes; if I

have a sin, a great sin, it is hatred of that vile woman!" almost

shrieked the princess, now quite changed. "And what does she come

worming herself in here for? But I will give her a piece of my

mind. The time will come!"

CHAPTER XXII