Spencer said.
Frederick nodded.
"Readily, madame," he said. "In a way, you were justified--and, then,
you missed me. Had you hit me, my pardon might not have been required."
"And will you not tell me how you discovered the truth?" she asked.
"I chanced to learn of this meeting with His Royal Highness, the Duke
of Lotzen, and was a witness of all that occurred here between you."
"You cannot mean that you overheard our conversation!" she exclaimed.
"Every word," said the King.
"But where--and how?"
The Duke glanced up toward the Gallery--and a bitter smile crossed his
face.
"His Grace of Lotzen has guessed it," said Frederick.
She turned to the Duke interrogatingly.
"The gallery--behind the arras, yonder," he said.
"Exactly," said the King.
"And you forgot the Gallery?" Mrs. Spencer asked, mockingly.
"Yes," said he, with a shrug and a lift of his eyebrows, "I forgot it."
She turned to the King.
"I shall be ready, Sire, to depart for Paris on the evening train,
to-morrow," she said.
"You shall have the permit in the morning," he answered.
Then he turned to Lotzen--and the Duke saw and understood. He
straightened up and his heels came together sharply.
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