would go immediately to
Dornlitz and publicly claim the American, Armand Dalberg--who had just
been restored to his rightful place as a Grand Duke of Valeria--as my
husband, I was to receive an enormous sum of money (the amount Your
Highness also knows) and all expenses. I accepted instantly, mainly
for the money; but, also, to satisfy a personal grudge I had against
Major Dalberg. I made the one condition, however, that a marriage
certificate must be procured--the date for which I gave; choosing one
on which I happened to know Major Dalberg was in New York. And it was
done. How, I neither knew nor cared. One-half the money was given me
in advance--the balance to be paid the day I executed my mission. I
received it the morning following that scene at the Grand Duke's supper
party at the Hanging Garden. And, God knows, I earned every cent of
it! I was guaranteed protection while in Valeria, and to be at liberty
to depart one week after I had made the public assertion of the
marriage and had exhibited the certificate."

She paused.

"Now, perchance, Your Highness understands the matter," she added, and
smiled sweetly.

He flecked the ash from his cigarette and shook his head.

"I understand no more than I did at first, how this plot against the
Grand Duke Armand affects me," he said.

"Of course, it may not occur to Your Highness--but it doubtless would
to the King--who, of all living creatures, would be most benefited and
who most injured by my marriage story. However, if you are not my
employer, then, it will not hurt you. And, as I cannot imagine who
else it could be, I shall simply fling the whole business overboard; go
to the Governor to-morrow; tell the truth; endorse on the marriage
certificate the fact of its falseness; give it to him--and take the
first train for Paris--And, I fancy, I shall read the betrothal notice
of the Princess Royal of Valeria and the Grand Duke Armand before I've
been there a week."

Lotzen got up and went over to her.

"Do you know you are a very clever woman?" he said.

She looked archly up at him.

"You will enable me to escape?" she asked.

He took her hand--and, this time, it was not withdrawn.

"I will do my best," he said; "but, it's a fierce risk for me. If
detected, it would mean, at the very least, a year's banishment."

She smiled.

"It would mean something more than that if I told my story," she said.

"I'm doing it for you; not from fear of the sto