"The porter isn't there--he's always at the carpenter's next door--and you see that he hasn't yet lighted the lantern.

Still he may come back at any moment.

So the Abbe and I will carry the Prince into his room at once." She alone retained her head, like a woman of well-balanced mind and quiet activity.

The two others, whose stupor continued, listened to her and obeyed her with the docility of children.

"Contessina," she continued, "you must light us.