r
which I do not care?"

I regarded her vaguely. I saw a precipice at my feet. I could not
tell her that in making her a Princess I was making Gretchen free. I
could not confess that my motive was purely a selfish one.

"It was a duty," said I, evasively.

"And in what way will it concern the Princess Hildegarde's affairs--and
yours?" She was rather merciless.

"Why should it concern any affair of mine?" I asked.

"You love her, and she loves you; may she not abdicate in my favor?"

"And if she should?" with an accent of impatience.

Phyllis grew silent. "Forgive me, Jack!" impulsively. "But all this
is scarcely to be believed. And then you say there are no proofs."

"Not in the eyes of the law," I replied; "but nature has written it in
your faces." I was wondering why she had not gone into raptures at the
prospect of becoming a Princess.

"It is a great honor," she said, after some meditation, "and it is very
kind of you. But I care as little for the title as I do for this
rose." And she cast away one of Pembroke's roses. It boded ill for my
cousin's cause.

Presently we saw the giver of the rose loom up in the doorway. He was
smiling as usual.

"It is supper, Jack," he said; "I'm afraid you'll have to go."

"Does he know?" whispered Phyllis as we rose.

"Yes."

She frowned. And as they went away I mused upon the uncertainty of
placing valuable things in woman's hands.

The next person I saw was the Chancellor.

"Well?" I interrogated.

"There can be no doubt," he said, "but--" with an expressive shrug.

"Life would run smoother if it had fewer 'buts' and 'its' and
'perhapses.' What you would say," said I, "is that there are no
proofs. Certainly they must be somewhere."

"But to find them!" cried he.

"I shall make the effort; the pursuit is interesting."

The expression in his eyes told me that he had formed an opinion in
regard to my part. "Ah, these journalists!" as he passed on.

Everything seemed so near and yet so far. Proofs? Where could they be
found if Wentworth had them not? If only there had been a trinket, a
kerchief, even, with the Hohenphalian crest upon it! I shook my fists
in despair. Gretchen was so far away, so far!

I went in search of her. She was still surrounded by men. The women
were not as friendly toward her as they might have been. The Prince
was standing near. Seeing me approach, his teeth gleamed for an
instant.

"Ah," said Gretchen, "