"No, but--" And she searched his face wonderingly.
"Is it the beard you miss ?" asked Rudolf, fingering his chin.

"Mayn't kings shave when they please, as well as other men ?" Her face still expressed bewilderment, and still a lingering doubt.

He bent towards her, whispering: "Perhaps I wasn't over-anxious to be known at once." She flushed with pleasure at the confidence he seemed to put in her.
"I should know you anywhere," she whispered, with a glance of the great black eyes.

"Anywhere, your Majesty." "Then you'll help me, perhaps ?" "With my life." "No, no, my dear young lady, merely with a little information.

Whose home is this ?" "My mother's." "Ah! She takes lodgers ?" The girl appeared vexed at his cautious approaches.