Inevitable

XL

URANIA SOBBED NERVOUSLY in Cornélie’s arms when Cornélie told the young princess that she was leaving the next day. They were alone with Duco in Urania’s private drawing-room.

“What happened?” she asked, sobbing.

Cornélie told her about the previous evening.

“Urania,” she said seriously, “I know I’m a flirt. I loved talking to Gilio; call it flirting if you like. I have never made a secret of it, either with Duco or with you. I regarded it as amusement and nothing more. Perhaps I was wrong; I have irritated you by it in the past. I promised you never to do it again, but it seems to be stronger than I am. It’s in my nature, and I won’t try to defend myself… I regarded it as something so trifling, a piece of fun and amusement. But perhaps it is bad. Will you forgive me? I’ve grown so fond of you: it would pain me if you did not forgive me …”

“Make it up with Gilio and stay …”

“Impossible, dearest girl. Gilio has insulted me, Gilio drew his knife against Duco, and I shall never forgive him that double insult. So it is impossible to stay any longer.”

“I shall be left so alone!” she sobbed. “I am very fond of you too, of both of you. Is there no way …? Robert is leaving me tomorrow too. I shall be all alone here. What do I have here? No one who loves me …”

“You have a lot, Urania. You have a goal to live for; you can do much good for those around you … You are interested in this castle, which is now yours.”

“It’s all so hollow!” she sobbed. “It gives me nothing. I need sympathy. Who cares for me? I have tried to love Gilio, and I do love him, but he, he cares nothing for me. No one here cares for me …”

“I believe your poor folk care about you. You have a noble cause.”

“I am glad of that, but I’m too young to live just for a cause. I have nothing else. No one cares for me here.”

“What about Prince Ercole …”

“No, he despises me. Shall I tell you something? I told you before that Gilio had told me there were no family jewels, that everything had been sold? Do you remember? Well, there are family jewels. I realised that from something the Countess di Rosavilla said. There are family jewels. But Prince Ercole keeps them in the Banca di Roma. They despise me and I am unworthy to wear them. And with me they act as if there is nothing left. And the worst thing! … is that all their friends, their whole coterie know that they are kept in the bank and they all approve of what Prince Ercole has done. My money is good enough for them, but I’m not good enough for their old jewels, their grandmothers’ jewels!”

“It’s scandalous,” said Cornélie.

“It’s the truth!” she sobbed. “Oh, make it up; stay here with me …”

“Judge for yourself, Urania: we really can’t.”

“It’s true,” she admitted with a sigh.

“It’s all my fault.”

“No, no. Gilio is sometimes so hot-headed …”

“But his hotheadedness, his passion and his jealousy are my fault. I am very sorry about it, Urania, for your sake. Forgive me. Come and see me in Rome, if you go there. Don’t forget me, and write to me, won’t you? Now I must pack. What time is the train?”

“Ten twenty-five,” said Duco. “We’ll go together.”

“Can I say goodbye to Prince Ercole? Have me announced.”

“What will you say to him?”

“The first thing that comes into my head: that a friend in Rome is ill, that I am going and Van der Staal is accompanying me, because I am nervous. I really don’t care what Prince Ercole thinks.”

“Cornélie …”

“Darling, I really have no more time. Give me a hug. Forgive me. And don’t forget me. Adieu, we had a precious time together: I’ve grown very fond of you …”

She struggled free of Urania, and Duco also said goodbye. They left the princess alone, sobbing. In the corridor they met Gilio.

“Where are you going?” he asked humbly.

“We’re leaving on the ten twenty-five train …”

“I am deeply sorry …”

But they went on and left him standing there, while Urania sobbed in the drawing-room.