But what her father had said about Mademoiselle Bourienne was dreadful.

It was untrue to be sure, but still it was terrible, and she could not help thinking of it.

She was going straight on through the conservatory, neither seeing nor hearing anything, when suddenly the well-known whispering of Mademoiselle Bourienne aroused her.

She raised her eyes, and two steps away saw Anatole embracing the Frenchwoman and whispering something to her.

With a horrified expression on his handsome face, Anatole looked at Princess Mary, but did not at once take his arm from the waist of Mademoiselle Bourienne who had not yet seen her.