Chapter 8

           Shelaughed,butshewasratherangrytoo.

           “He’sasleep!Youwereasleep,”shesaid,withcontemptuoussurprise.

           “Isitreallyyou?”mutteredtheprince,notquitehimselfasyet,andrecognizingherwithastartofamazement.“Ohyes,ofcourse,”headded,“thisisourrendezvous.Ifellasleephere.”

           “SoIsaw.”

           “Didnooneawakemebesidesyourself?Wastherenooneelsehere?Ithoughttherewasanotherwoman.”

           “Therewasanotherwomanhere?”

           Atlasthewaswideawake.

           “Itwasadream,ofcourse,”hesaid,musingly.“StrangethatIshouldhaveadreamlikethatatsuchamoment.Sitdown—”

           Hetookherhandandseatedheronthebench;thensatdownbesideherandreflected.

           Aglayadidnotbegintheconversation,butcontentedherselfwithwatchinghercompanionintently.

           Helookedbackather,butattimesitwasclearthathedidnotseeherandwasnotthinkingofher.

           Aglayabegantoflushup.

           “Ohyes!”criedtheprince,starting.“Hippolyte’ssuicide—”

           “What?Atyourhouse?”sheasked,butwithoutmuchsurprise.“Hewasaliveyesterdayevening,wasn’the?Howcouldyousleephereafterthat?”shecried,growingsuddenlyanimated.

           “Oh,buthedidn’tkillhimself;thepistoldidn’tgooff.”Aglayainsistedonhearingthewholestory.