me."

"I thought I heard someone say: 'The sixth dance, cousin.'"

"You did."

"And you call that a 'fool bet'?"

"I do,--and the more so that we were sober when we made it."

"You're a bit hard to please, lately," he mocked.

"I'm a bit easily led astray, lately, you mean," I retorted.

All this talk, as we made our way through the crowd, was interrupted at
intervals while Courtney greeted those he knew and presented me. They
were mainly of the diplomatic corps and, if they noted the coincidence
of my name and Dalberg features, they were adepts enough not to show
it. Not so, however, with some of the elderly Valerian dignitaries and
army officers; they were very evidently surprised and curious,--and,
very shortly, it was plain I was the object of their discussion and
careful observation.

"How do you enjoy it?" Courtney inquired.

"You forget that this is not my first visit to Dornlitz," I answered.

"Some day I'd like to know of those other visits."

"There's nothing to know; they were like any other tourist's."

"Really, Major, you throw your opportunities away," he said, and I saw
he did not believe me.

"What opportunities?" I asked.

He smiled. "Well, not those for prevarication, certainly."

"Isn't that a necessary qualification of a diplomatic attache?" I said.

"Quite the most important,--and I don't doubt you will find it useful
before you leave Valeria."

Then the band blared out into a waltz and the crowd drew away from the
centre of the floor. I expected the real Heir Presumptive to lead out
the Princess. I admit I was curious to see him. Report made him a
very able young fellow, and his pictures showed a goodly figure.
Instead, however, someone in a Colonel's uniform was her partner to
open the dance. I turned to Courtney interrogatingly.

"It is Prince Charles, Lotzen's brother," he explained.

"And the Duke?" I asked.

"Still with the Army, I suppose."

Then the Princess swung by and, catching my eye, gave me a quick smile.

"Sort of a relief, isn't it?" Courtney remarked.

I nodded mechanically.

"Only I wouldn't tell her so," he said.

"Wouldn't tell her what?" I demanded.

"That you were relieved to know she could dance."

"I never doubted it," I said shortly.

He looked surprised. "Oh!" he remarked; "Oh!"--and fell to stroking
his imperial.

"Courtney," said I, "you're a great fool--and I'm another."

"True, Major, quite true; I found that out long ago."