she will have to disavow her
protege, which is a fact not unthought of by the house of Auersperg.
By constant machination and intrigue the king's revenues have been so
depleted that ordinary debts are troublesome. The archbishop, to stave
off the probable end, brought about the alliance between the houses
of Carnavia and Osia. My business here is to arrange for a ten years'
renewal of the loan, and that is what the duchess wishes to prevent, mon
ami. What's to become of the king and his daughter if aught in the way
of mishap should befall me? I have not seen the king, but I have seen
her Royal Highness."

"What is she like?" Maurice asked, innocently. He saw no reason why he
should confide to the Englishman his own adventure.

"I'm not much of a judge," said Fitzgerald cautiously. "I have lived
most of my life in cantonments where women were old and ran mostly to
tongue. I should say that she is beautiful." A short sigh followed this
admission.

"Ah!" said Maurice with a loud laugh to cover the sudden pang of
jealousy which seized him; "in gratitude for saving her father's throne
the daughter will fall in love with you. It is what the dramatist calls
logical sequence."

"Why don't you write novels? Your imagination has no bounds."

"Writing novels is too much like work. But I'm serious. Your position in
the world to-day is nearly equal to hers, and certainly more secure. Ah,
yes; I must not forget that prince. He's a lucky dog--and so are you,
for that matter. Millions and titles! And I have slapped you cavalierly
on the back, smoked your cigars, drunk your whisky, and beaten you at
poker!" comically.

"Ah, Maurice, it is neither wealth nor titles; it is freedom. I am like
a boy out of school for good and all. Women, the society of women, who
are the salt of earth; that is what I want. I have knocked out thirteen
years of my life in furnace holes, and have not met nor spoken to a
dozen young women in all that time. How I envy you! You know every
one; you have seen the world; you are at home in Paris, or London, or
Vienna; you have enjoyed all I wish to enjoy."

"Why did you ever get into the army?"

"You ought to know."

"But it was bread and butter to me."

"Well, I was young; I saw fame and glory. If the matter under hand is
closed to-morrow, what do you say to the Carpathians and bears? I shall
not remain here; some one will be looking for blood. What do you say?"

"I don't know," said Maurice, thought