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He looked up at the Princess as though trying to fathom the meaning of her words. "Certainly," he answered slowly. "I have not forgotten what you said. Of course, her dot is very large, is it not?" "It is very large indeed," the Princess answered, "and there are a great many young men who would be very grateful to me indeed if I were willing even to listen to them." De Brensault nodded.
Never in the course of his whole life, had he admired himself so much. "I forget everything," he declared, with a little wave of the hand, "except that I love you, and that you are the one woman in the world whom I wish to make the Comtesse de Brensault. Mademoiselle permits me?" He stooped and raised her cold hand to his lips.
De Brensault said, after a moment's hesitation. "I would like to delay nothing. I would like to marry Mademoiselle Jeanne at once, if it can be arranged." "To tell you the truth," the Princess said, "I think it would be much the best way out of a very difficult situation. I am finding Jeanne very difficult to manage, and I am quite sure that she will be happier and better off married.
Really your cheque will be a god-send to me. I seem to have had nothing but expenses lately, and Jeanne's guardians are as mean as they can be. They grumble even at allowing me five thousand a year." De Brensault twirled his moustache as he seated himself at the table. "Five thousand a year," he muttered. "It is not a bad allowance for a young girl who is not yet of age."
She received her stepdaughter with some show of affection, and bade her sit close to her. "Jeanne," she said, "you are now nearly twenty years old. For many reasons I wish to see you married. The Count de Brensault formally proposed for you last night. He is coming at three o'clock this afternoon for his answer." Jeanne sat upright in her chair.
You may know this, or you may not know it, but the fact remains that I am a very poor woman." De Brensault nodded sympathetically. He guessed pretty well what was coming.
Remember that I am many years older and wiser than you. You should leave it to me to do what is best." Jeanne shook her head. "I cannot," she said simply. "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I shall tell every one I meet that I have no money, and I will not marry the Count de Brensault." The Princess grasped her by the wrist. "You will not obey me, child?" she said.
I want you to give me twenty thousand pounds the day that you marry Jeanne. It is about one year's income for her rentes, a mere trifle to you, of course." "Twenty thousand pounds," De Brensault repeated reflectively. The Princess nodded. She was sorry that she had not asked thirty thousand. "I am not a mercenary woman," she said. "If I were not almost a pauper I would accept nothing.
"I cannot tell you," she said, "only I am going to marry the Count de Brensault." "I'm hanged if you are!" the Duke declared vigorously. "Look here, Miss Jeanne. This is your stepmother's doing. I know all about it. Don't you believe that in this country you are obliged to marry any one whom you don't want to."
Tell me what it is that you propose. Perhaps I may be able to help." "Jeanne is, of course, not of age," the Princess said thoughtfully, "and she is entirely under my control. In England people are rather foolish about these things, but abroad they understand the situation better." "Why not in Belgium?" De Brensault exclaimed. "We might go to a little town I know of very near to my estates.
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