"Nobody." "Not--a little--Charlotte ?" "A little ?" the Princess echoed.

"To know anything would be, for her, to know enough." "And she doesn't know anything ?" "If she did," Maggie answered, "Amerigo would." "And that's just it--that he doesn't ?" "That's just it," said the Princess profoundly.
On which Mrs.Assingham reflected.

"Then how is Charlotte so held ?" "Just by that." "By her ignorance ?" "By her ignorance." Fanny wondered.

"A torment-- ?" "A torment," said Maggie with tears in her eyes.
Her companion a moment watched them.

"But the Prince then-- ?" "How is HE held ?" Maggie asked.
"How is HE held ?" "Oh, I can't tell you that!" And the Princess again broke off.
XLI A telegram, in Charlotte's name, arrived early--"We shall come and ask you for tea at five, if convenient to you.