Gertrude felt herself trembling again. A Baroness Munster, who sent a brilliant young man to "announce" her; who was coming, as the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon, to pay her "respects" to quiet Mr. Wentworth--such a personage presented herself to Gertrude's vision with a most effective unexpectedness.
For a moment she hardly knew what to say. "When will she come?" she asked at last.
"As soon as you will allow her--to-morrow. She is very impatient," answered Felix, who wished to be agreeable.
"To-morrow, yes," said Gertrude. She wished to ask more about her; but she hardly knew what could be predicated of a Baroness Munster.
"Is she--is she--married?"
Felix had finished his cake and wine; he got up, fixing upon the young girl his bright, expressive eyes. "She is married to a German prince--
Prince Adolf, of Silberstadt-Schreckenstein. He is not the reigning prince; he is a younger brother."
Gertrude gazed at her informant; her lips were slightly parted.
"Is she a--a Princess?" she asked at last.
"Oh, no," said the young man; "her position is rather a singular one.
It 's a morganatic marriage."
"Morganatic?" These were new names and new words to poor Gertrude.
"That 's what they call a marriage, you know, contracted between a scion of a ruling house and--and a common mortal.
They made Eugenia a Baroness, poor woman; but that was all they could do. Now they want to dissolve the marriage.
Prince Adolf, between ourselves, is a ninny; but his brother, who is a clever man, has plans for him. Eugenia, naturally enough, makes difficulties; not, however, that I think she cares much--she 's a very clever woman; I 'm sure you 'll like her--but she wants to bother them. Just now everything is en l'air."
The cheerful, off-hand tone in which her visitor related this darkly romantic tale seemed to Gertrude very strange; but it seemed also to convey a certain flattery to herself, a recognition of her wisdom and dignity. She felt a dozen impressions stirring within her, and presently the one that was uppermost found words.