"You have known it so long?" she cried joyously. "And you have trusted
me? You have not hated me for deceiving you?"
"I have never ceased to regard you as my sovereign," he said
softly.
"But just a moment ago you spoke of me as a frisky American girl," she
said resentfully.
"I have used that term but once, while I have said 'your highness' a
thousand times. Knowing that you were Miss Calhoun, I could not have
meant either."
"I fancy I have no right to criticise you," she humbly admitted. "After
all, it does not surprise me that you were not deceived. Only an
imbecile could have been fooled all these weeks. Everyone said that you
were no fool. It seems ridiculous that it should have gone to this
length, doesn't it?"
"Not at all, your highness. I am not--"
"You have the habit, I see," she smiled.
"I have several months yet to serve as a member of the guard. Besides, I
am under orders to regard you as the princess. General Marlanx has given
me severe instructions in that respect."
"You are willing to play the game to the end?" she demanded, more
gratified than she should have been.
"Assuredly, yes. It is the only safeguard I have. To alter my belief
publicly would expose me to--to--"
"To what, Baldos?"
"To ridicule, for one thing, and to the generous mercies of Count
Marlanx. Besides, it would deprive me of the privilege I mentioned a
moment ago--the right to kiss your hand, to be your slave and to do
homage to the only sovereign I can recognize. Surely, you will not
subject me to exile from the only joys that life holds for me. You have
sought to deceive me, and I have tried to deceive you. Each has found
the other out, so we are quits. May we not now combine forces in the
very laudible effort to deceive the world? If the world doesn't know
that we know, why, the comedy may be long drawn out and the climax be
made the more amusing."
"I'm afraid there was a touch of your old-time sarcasm in that remark,"
she said. "Yes, I am willing to continue the comedy. It seems the safest
way to protect you--especially from General Marlanx. No one must ever
know, Baldos; it would be absolutely pitiful. I am glad, oh, so glad,
that you have known all the time. It relieves my mind and my conscience
tremendously."
"Yes," he said gently; "I have known all along that you were not
Mr. Lorry's wife." He had divined her thought and she flushed
hotly. "You are still a princess, however. A poor goat-hunter can only
look upon the rich American girl as a sovereign whom he must worship
from far below."
"Oh, I'm not so rich as all that," she cried." Besides, I think it is
time for a general clearing-up of the mysteries. Are you Prince Dantan,
Prince Frederic, or that other one--Christobal somebody? Come, be fair
with me."