My irritation went down before his unfailing good nature. It was
always so.

"Since we are unanimous on that point," I said, "I have no ground for
quarrel."

I danced the next number with Lady Helen, the youngest daughter of Lord
Radnor, the British Ambassador. We were old friends, after the modern
fashion. I had met her in Washington some four or five years before,
while on staff duty, and we had danced and dined ourselves into each
other's regard. Then, Lord Radnor was transferred to Dornlitz and I
went back into active service. So I had been altogether well pleased
to find her with the Radnors when we chanced upon them during the
stroll around the room, and I had engaged a pair of dances to give us a
chance for a quiet little chat.

"Do you know, Major, for a stranger you are arousing extraordinary
curiosity?" she remarked, as we sat on the terrace.

I smiled. "Yes, I believe I am."

She looked surprised. "So you have heard of it?"

"I knew it years ago."

"Oh, how stupid!" she exclaimed. "Of course, this is not your first
visit to Dornlitz. Yet, it's a queer coincidence that you should have
both the family name and the great Henry's features."

"Oh, no," said I; "not particularly queer, since I am his
great-great-grandson."

She closed her fan with a snap. "His great-great-grandson!" she echoed.

I nodded.

"But I thought yours an old American family. Didn't you tell me, one
day at Mount Vernon, that a Dalberg fought with Washington?"

It was my turn to be surprised. I had long forgotten both the
circumstance and the remark. "And I told you truly enough," I answered.

She frowned a bit; then shook her head. "I cannot understand," she
said.

Doubtless I was foolish--Courtney would have called it something
stronger--but, nevertheless, I told her the story of Hugo. For the
benefit of the scoffer let me say that the Lady Helen could be very
fetching when she was so minded, and this was our first meeting in four
years.

"How romantic!" she exclaimed, when I had finished my tale. "Father
will be so interested."

I almost tumbled out of the chair. "Lord Radnor will not have the
opportunity to be interested," I said sharply. "You may not tell him,
nor anyone."

"Certainly not, if you wish it," she said instantly.

I thought she could be trusted; but it would do no harm to give her a
bit of warning as to the situation.

"None but the King, the Princess and Courtney knows of thi