e dining hall, whistling, "Behold the saber of my
father!"

"Ah, I do not see the Colonel," said Maurice; for night and day the old
soldier had been with them.

"He has gone to Brunnstadt," said Madame, "but will return this
evening."

The breakfast was short and merry. Words passed across the table that
were as crisp as the toast. Maurice remarked the advent of two liveried
servants, stolid Germans by the way, who, as he afterward found, did not
understand French.

"So the Colonel has gone to Brunnstadt?" said Maurice; which was a long
way of asking why the Colonel had gone to Brunnstadt.

"Yes," said Madame; "he has gone to consult Madame the duchess to see
what shall be done to you, Monsieur."

"To be done to me?" ignoring the challenge in her eyes.

"Yes. You must not forget that you promised me your sword, and I have
taken the liberty of presenting it to her Highness."

"I remember nothing about promising my sword," said Maurice, gazing
ceiling-ward.

"What! There was a mental reservation?"

"No, Madame. I remember my words only too well. I said that I loved
adventure, thoughtless youth that I was, and that I was easy to be
found. Which is all true, and part proved, since I am here."

"Still, the uniform fits you exceedingly well. The hussars hold a high
place at court."

"Madame," replied he pleasantly, "I appreciate the honor, but at present
my sword and fealty are sworn to my own country. And besides, I have no
desire to take part in the petty squabble between this country and the
kingdom."

The forecast of a storm lay in Madame's gray eyes.

"Eh? You wish to placate me, Madame?" thought Maurice.

"He is right, Madame," interposed the countess. "But away with politics!
It spoils all it touches."

"And away with the duchess, too," put in Fitzgerald, reaching for a
bunch of yellow grapes. "With all due respect to your cause and beliefs,
Madame the duchess, your mistress, is a bugbear to me. The very sound of
the title arouses in my heart all that is antagonistic."

"You have not seen her Highness, Monsieur," said Madame, quietly.
"Perhaps she is all that is desirable. She is known to be rich, her
will is paramount to all others. When she sets her heart on a thing she
leaves no stone unturned until she procures it. And, countess, do
they not say of her that she possesses something--an attribute--more
dangerous than beauty--fascination?"

"Yes, Madame."

"Madame the duchess," said Maurice d