WHEN I arrived at my rooms, my colleague hurried to meet me the moment I opened the door.
"I am going to surprise you," he said; "and there is no time to prepare you for it. Our chief, the Minister, has seen the Prince this morning, and has been officially informed of an event of importance in the life of the Princess. She is engaged to be married to the Grand Duke."Engaged to the Duke--and not a word from her to warn me of it!
Engaged--after what she had said to me no longer ago than the past night! Had I been made a plaything to amuse a great lady?
Oh, what degradation! I was furious; I snatched up my hat to go to the palace--to force my way to her--to overwhelm her with reproaches. My friend stopped me. He put an official document into my hand.
