“Then,” said Rudolph, “you shall send for her to come here.  None of us shall speak to her lest you might think we did so to prompt her.  We will hide behind the tapestry.  Dry your tears; ring for a servant, and request Mary to come to you, and then ask her such questions as you choose.”

This was done, and in a few moments Mary appeared—­an honest, stout, rosy-cheeked Irish girl, with the frank blue eyes and kindly smile of her people.

“Mary,” said Estella, “you have always been kind to me.  Do you love me sufficiently to tell me the truth if I ask you some questions?”

“Sure, and you may do so, my dear,” said Mary.

“Then, Mary, tell me, is Frederika the Prince of Cabano’s niece?”

“Niver a drop’s blood to him,” replied Mary.

“What is she doing in his house, then?” asked Estella.

“Sure, it would be as much as my place is worth, ma’am, to answer that question; and hard enough it is for an honest girl to get a place now-a-days.  If it hadn’t been for Barney McGuiggan, who married my brother’s sister-in-law, and who is own cousin to Mr. Flaherty, the butler’s second assistant, I couldn’t have got the place I have at all, at all.  And if I said a word against Miss Frederika, out I would go, and where would I find another place?”

“But, Mary, if you speak the truth no harm shall follow to you.  I shall never repeat what you say.  I do not ask out of idle curiosity, but much depends on your answer.”

“Indeed, ma’am,” replied Mary, “if you weren’t as innocent as ye’re purty, you would have found out the answer to your own question long ago.  Faith, an’ don’t everybody in the house know she’s”—­here she approached, and whispered solemnly in her ear—­“she’s the Prince’s favorite mistress?”

Estella recoiled.  After a pause she said: 

“And, Mary, who are the other young ladies we call the Prince’s cousins—­Miss Lucy, Miss Julia and the rest?”

“Ivery one of them’s the same.  It’s just as I told Hannah, the cook’s scullion; I didn’t belave ye knew a word of what was going on in this house.  And didn’t I tell her that Miss Frederika was contriving to kape you out of the Prince’s sight.; and that was the rason she took you out riding for hours ivery day, and made you sleep in a remote part of the palace; for if the Prince ever clapped his two ougly eyes upon you it would be all up wid Madame Frederika.”

I could see from where I was hidden that Estella grasped the back of a chair for support, and she said in a low voice: 

“You may go, Mary; I am much obliged to you for your friendship and honesty.”

We found her sitting in the chair, with her hands over her face, sobbing convulsively.  At last she looked around upon us and cried out: 

“Oh my God!  What shall I do?  I am sold—­sold—­a helpless slave.  Oh, it is horrible!”

“You will never be without friends while we live,” I said, advancing to her side.