erica. "You
want to be careful. Every one burns his fingers or singes his wings
around that candle."

"What do you know about her?" I asked.

"A little. You see, about six months ago I discovered all regarding
Hillars and his fall from grace. It was through the Reuter agency.
Hillars got badly singed. An elopement of some sort between him and
the Princess was nipped in the bud. He was ordered to leave the
country and warned never to return, at the peril of his liberty. A
description of him is with every post on the frontier. As for the
Princess she is an interesting character. She was educated in this
country and France. She speaks several languages. She is headstrong
and wilful, and her royal guardian is only too anxious to see her
married and settled down. She masquerades in men's clothes when it
pleases her, she can ride a horse like a trooper, she fences and
shoots, she has fought two duels, and heaven alone knows what she has
not done to disturb the tranquility of the Court. For a man she loved
she would be a merry comrade. I saw her once in Paris. She is an
extraordinarily beautiful woman. A man takes no end of risk when he
concerns himself with her affairs, I can tell you. Hillars--Well, I
suppose it's none of my business. He must have had an exciting time of
it," concluded the young man.

"I'll leave you in charge for a week or so," said I. "What little news
there is at the Houses you can cover. I'll take care of anything of
importance that occurs abroad. I might as well pack up and get out
to-night. A boat leaves Dover early in the morning."

Then I picked up the third and last letter. It was from Phyllis. It
contained the enjoyable news that the Wentworths were coming abroad,
and that they would remain indefinitely at B----, where Mr. Wentworth
had been appointed charge d'affaires under the American Minister. They
were to visit the Mediterranean before coming to London. They would be
in town in October. The mere thought of seeing Phyllis made my heart
throb.

The next morning I put out from Dover. It was a rough passage for that
time of the year, and I came near being sea-sick. A day or so in Paris
brought me around, and I proceeded. As I passed the frontier I noticed
that my passports were eagerly scanned, and that I was closely
scrutinized for some reason or other.

A smartly dressed officer occupied half of the carriage compartment
with me. I tried to draw him into con