perfumes. His step was buoyant, almost jaunty, yet in his blue eyes,
as he bent over the hand of the woman upon whom he had come to call,
lurked something of the disquietude which, notwithstanding his most
strenuous efforts, was beginning to assert itself.

"You make me very happy, my dear Naida," he began, "that you receive me
thus so informally. Your good father is smoking in the lounge. He bade
me come up."

She beckoned him to a seat.

"A thousand thanks for your flowers, my friend," she said. "Now tell me
why you are possessed to see me at this untimely hour. I always rest for
a time after luncheon, and I am only here because the sunshine filled my
room and made me restless."

"There is a little matter of news," he announced slowly. "I thought it
might interest you. I hoped it would."

She turned her head and looked at him.

"News?" she repeated. "News from you means only one thing. Is it good or
bad?"

"It is good," he replied, "because it saves me a long and tedious
journey, because it saves me also from a separation which I should have
found detestable."

"Your journey to China, then, is abandoned?"

"It is rendered unnecessary. Prince Shan has decided after all to
adhere to his original plan and come to Europe."

"You are sure?"

"I have an official intimation," he replied. "I may probably have to go
to Paris, but no farther. It is even possible that I might leave
to-night."

She was genuinely interested.

"There is no one in the whole world," she declared, "whom I have wanted
to meet so much as Prince Shan."

"You will not be disappointed," he promised her. "There is no one like
him. When he enters the room, you know that you are in the presence of a
great man. The three of us together! Naida, we will remake the map of
the world."

She frowned a little uneasily.

"Do not take too much for granted, Oscar," she enjoined. "Remember that
I am here to watch and to report. It is not for me to make decisions."

"Then for whom else?" he demanded. "Paul Matinsky himself wrote me that
you had his entire confidence--that you possessed full powers for
action. You will not be faint-hearted, Naida?"

"I shall never be false to my convictions," she replied.

There was a brief silence. He was not altogether satisfied, but he
judged the moment unpropitious for any further reference to the coming
of Prince Shan.

"My plans, as you see, are changed," he said at last, "and for that
reason a promise whi