Au revoir!"--and she left the hall.

Prince Hippolyte approached the little princess and, bending his face close to her, began to whisper something.

Two footmen, the princess' and his own, stood holding a shawl and a cloak, waiting for the conversation to finish.

They listened to the French sentences which to them were meaningless, with an air of understanding but not wishing to appear to do so.

The princess as usual spoke smilingly and listened with a laugh.