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"Not a bit. I'd no other way out of it. One of the two had to be

a fool. And, well, you know one can't say that of oneself."

"'No one is satisfied with his fortune, and everyone is satisfied

with his wit.'" The attache repeated the French saying.

"That's just it, just it," Princess Myakaya turned to him. "But

the point is that I won't abandon Anna to your mercies. She's so

nice, so charming. How can she help it if they're all in love

with her, and follow her about like shadows?"

"Oh, I had no idea of blaming her for it," Anna's friend said in

self-defense.

"If no one follows us about like a shadow, that's no proof that

we've any right to blame her."

And having duly disposed of Anna's friend, the Princess Myakaya

got up, and together with the ambassador's wife, joined the group

at the table, where the conversation was dealing with the king of

Prussia.

"What wicked gossip were you talking over there?" asked Betsy.