ugh to step past him but he did not move.

"But you must talk about it," he said. "Are our relations thus to be
brushed away--by misunderstanding? Anne, have I been utterly misled?
What is it, Anne? I command you to speak."

"Will you please let me pass?"

"No, not until you have answered me." There was crisp savagery in his
voice.

Anne, now trembling with anger, turned quickly upon him.

"Very well, I shall answer you. I don't love you and I can't love you
and I won't love you. I resent your actions. You have been making
this house headquarters for your diplomatic schemes and when they have
gone astray, you have made us all the creatures of your irritable
whims. You made me a laughing stock when you backed out of the theatre
party, and have done nothing but consider your own convenience
irrespective of any plans I may have formed for your entertainment.
You were so disagreeable last night at dinner that I wept for very
shame after it. And--and--now you have your answer."

For a moment Koltsoff stood erect, as though frozen by her words. Then
he bent his head forward menacingly.

Anne laughed.

"We are not in Monaco--or Russia, Prince Koltsoff, but in the United
States."

"The United States!" sneered Koltsoff.

The next instant he was on his knees, his lips on the lace of her skirt.

"Please, Prince Koltsoff! Don't, please."

She glanced aside and saw the expansive white chest of Armitage bearing
up the slight incline. "And now you must excuse me," she said, "my
partner for the next dance claims me." She snatched away her skirt and
walked rapidly to meet Jack, while Koltsoff gathered himself to his
feet and cursed volubly in three languages.

Anne was silent as they walked to the house, but cheerfully so. While
Jack could not exactly catch her expression in the moonlight, he had a
feeling she was glad to be with him.

"Do you want to back out?" he asked. "It is n't too late, you know.
Have you thought of the scandal?"

"Do you wish me to back out?" she smiled. "Have you thought you may
lose your position?"

"I don't care--for you can consider that I have given notice to take
effect to-morrow."

"But that does not mean--" she began, then checked herself.

He waited for her to continue, but she was silent. As they ascended
the steps the orchestra was beginning the waltz, with its dreamy
rhythm, which everybody had been humming for a month or two. She led
the way through a door at