The Princess laughed lightly, but there was still a spark of annoyance in her look.
"Why does Don John not come ?" she asked impatiently.

"We should have danced together.

Something must have happened--can you not find out ?" Others were asking the same question in surprise, for it had been expected that Don John would enter immediately after the supper.

His name was heard from end to end of the hall, in every conversation, wherever two or three persons were talking together.

It was in the air, like his popularity, everywhere and in everything, and the expectation of his coming produced a sort of tension that was felt by every one.