nd, now that we have come to an understanding, I shall
treat you as such. I have a pack of cards downstairs. I'll go and get
them. This is not my house, or I should have placed you in better
quarters. I shall leave the door unlocked," a question in his eyes.

"Rest assured that I shall return to the city as I came--in a carriage.
And to be honest, I am anxious to see the Count von Walden, who poses
as the Princess's watchdog."

And when he came back and found me still sitting on the pallet, his
face cleared.

We played for small sums, and the morning passed away rather pleasantly
than otherwise. The young officer explained to me that he held an
important position at court, and that he was entitled to prefix Baron
to his name.

"The King is getting out of all patience with her Highness," he said.
"This makes the second time the marriage has been postponed. Such
occurrences are extremely annoying to his Majesty, who does not relish
having his commands so flagrantly disregarded. I shouldn't be
surprised if he forced her into the marriage."

"When he knows how distasteful this marriage is to her, why does he not
let the matter go?"

"It is too late now. Royalty, having given its word, never retracts
it. Events which the King wills must come to pass, or he loses a part
of his royal dignity. And then, a King cannot very well be subservient
to the will of a subject."

"But has she no rights as a petty sovereign?" I asked.

"Only those which the King is kind enough to give her. She is but a
tenant: the rulers of Hohenphalia are but guests of his Majesty. It is
to be regretted, but it cannot be helped."

That afternoon, as I lay on my pallet, it seemed to me that in some
unaccountable way I was destined to become concerned in the affairs of
her Serene Highness. I had never seen the woman, not even a picture of
her. Certainly, she must be worth loving, inasmuch as she was worth
trouble. I have always found it to be the troublesome woman who has
the largest train of lovers. Troublesome, they are interesting;
interesting, they are lovable.

It was more than a year since last I saw Phyllis; yet my love for her
knew no diminution. I began to understand why Hillars traveled all
over the Continent to get a glimpse of the woman he loved. With the
pleasant thought that I should see Phyllis again, I dozed. I was half
asleep when I was aroused by loud voices in the corridor.

"But I do not believe him to be