"Even if I were to scrape off the gold ?" He showed, though with due respect, that she amused him.

"You couldn't scrape it off--it has been too well put on; put on I don't know when and I don't know how.

But by some very fine old worker and by some beautiful old process." Charlotte, frankly charmed with the cup, smiled back at him now.

"A lost art ?" "Call it a lost art," "But of what time then is the whole thing ?" "Well, say also of a lost time." The girl considered.

"Then if it's so precious, how comes it to be cheap ?" Her interlocutor once more hung fire, but by this time the Prince had lost patience.