The hides which covered the granite couch were also unknown to
me; they were of an amazing thickness and incredibly soft.
We were amusing ourselves with an attempt to pry one of the bits
of gold from the wall when we heard a sound behind us.
We turned and saw Desiree.
She stood in the entrance, smiling at us as though we had been
caught in her boudoir examining the articles on her
dressing-table. She was clothed as she had been on the throne; a
rope girdle held her single garment, and her hair fell across her
shoulders, reaching to her knees. Her arms and shoulders appeared
marvelously white, but they may have been by way of contrast.
Harry sprang across to her with a single bound. In another
moment his arms were round her; she barely submitted to the
embrace, but she gave him her lips, then drew herself away and
crossed to me, extending her hands in a sort of wavering doubt.
But that was no time for hostilities, and I took the hands in my
own and bent over them till my lips touched the soft fingers.
"A visit from the queen!" I said with a smile. "This is an
honor, your majesty."
"A doubtful one," said Desiree. "First of all, my friend, I want
to congratulate you on your savoir faire.
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