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Rh to the king. Since the coronation her feelings have undergone a marked development. It's quite true that she is deeply wounded by the king's apparent neglect." "Here's a kettle of fish!" I groaned.

"Tut, tut!" said Sapt. "I suppose you've made pretty speeches to a girl before now? That's all she wants."

Fritz, himself a lover, understood better my distress. He laid his hand on my shoulder, but said nothing.

"I think, though," pursued that cold-blooded old Sapt, "that you'd better make your offer to-night."

"Good Heavens!"

"Or, at any rate, go near it; and I shall send a 'semi-official' to the papers."

"I'll do nothing of the sort—no more will you!" said I. "I utterly refuse to take part in making a fool of the princess."

Sapt looked at me with his small keen eyes. A slow, cunning smile passed over his face.