De Brensault looked thoughtful for a moment or two.

“Perhaps,” he said, “it would be better if I had a business interview with her trustees before the ceremony.”

“Just as you like,” the Princess answered carelessly.  “Monsieur Laplanche is in Cairo just now, but he will be back in Paris in a few weeks’ time.  Perhaps you would rather delay everything until then?”

“No!” 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.  I am proposing, if you are willing, to exercise my authority absolutely.  If she shows the slightest reluctance to accept you, I propose that we all go over to Paris.  I shall know how to arrange things there.”

De Brensault smiled.  The prospect of winning Jeanne at any cost became more and more attractive to him.  The Princess, who was looking at him through half closed eyes, saw that he was perfectly safe.

“And now, my dear Count,” she said, “I am going to ask you a favour.  I am doing for you something for which you ought to be grateful to me all your life.  For a mere trifle which will not recompense me in the least for what I am giving up, I am finding you one of the most desirable brides in Europe.  I want you to help me a little.”

“What is it that I can do?” he asked.

“Let me have five thousand pounds on account of what you are going to give me, to-morrow morning,” she said coolly.

De Brensault hesitated.  He was prepared to pay for what he wanted, but five thousand pounds was nevertheless a great deal of money.

“I would not ask you,” the Princess continued, “if I were not really hard up.  I have been gambling, a foolish thing to do, and I do not want to sell my securities, because I know that very soon they will pay me over and over again.  Will you do this for me?  Remember, I am giving you my word that Jeanne is to be yours.”

“Make it three thousand,” De Brensault said slowly.  “Three thousand pounds I will send you a cheque for, to-morrow morning.”

The Princess nodded.

“As you will,” she said.  “I think if I were you, though, I should make it five.  However, I shall leave it for you to do what you can.  Now will you take me out into the ballroom.  I am going to look for Jeanne.”

They found her at supper with the Duke and Andrew and a very great lady, a connection of the Duke’s, who was one of those few who had refused to accept the Princess.  The Princess swept up to the little party and laid her hand upon Jeanne’s shoulder.

“I do not want to hurry you, dear,” she said, “but when you have finished supper I should be glad to go.  We have to go on to Dorchester House, you know.”