But I could not do otherwise in face of my instructions." "The Princess seems to me more trouble than she is worth." "It is possible that you have never seen her Highness," he said, hinting a smile.

"She is worth all the trouble in the world." "If a man loved her," I suggested.
"And what man does not who has seen her and talked to her ?" he replied, pacing.
"The interest, then, you take in her discovery is not all due to that imposed upon you by Count von Walden ?" I could not resist this thrust.
"The subject is one that does not admit discussion," squaring his shoulders.
"Suppose we talk of something that does not concern her?
All this is a blunder for which you are partly to blame.

I have a bad lump on my head and you have a black eye.

But as you did what you believed to be your duty, and as I did what every man does when self-preservation becomes his first thought, let us cry quits.

Come, what do you say to a game of cards?
Let us play ecarte, or I will teach you the noble game of poker.