was never intended to
be announced. Baron von Elmur assured me of that.'

'I am sure von Elmur's intentions were most generous, but the fact
remains that it was made public. Valerie, you must be aware of his
feelings towards you?'

Valerie came round the table and sat down beside her father, slipping
her hand caressingly through his arm.

Selpdorf smiled down at her.

'Valerie, I must ask you to consider not only your own share in this
question, but von Elmur's. It compromises Elmur no less than it
compromises you.'

'I cannot carry out the engagement,' said the girl quietly.

M. Selpdorf threw a great deal of surprise and disappointment into his
countenance.

'I did not know you were so greatly prejudiced against him. But,
Valerie, we are honourable people, you and I, and we cannot allow Baron
von Elmur to suffer because we unluckily misunderstood one another.'

Valerie grew very still, her fingers pressed upon her father's arm.

'Nothing succeeds like success, and up to the present time von Elmur has
succeeded,' he went on. 'But a failure in a love affair places a man in
an absurd position, and to be laughed at means loss of prestige.
Wherever he is known the story will follow him. He has a brilliant
future before him, a future that it might be the pride of any woman to
share. I think, therefore, you will hesitate before you injure him by
giving way to a girlish and perhaps passing dislike.'

'Father, I cannot!'

Valerie's voice was always low pitched and had the mellow sweetness
peculiar to a contralto. But Selpdorf recognised a note in it now which
showed him that his wishes were very far from fulfilment. She was loyal
and steadfast, qualities that up to the present the Chancellor had found
very admirable in his daughter. It is a rare pleasure for men of his
type to be able to trust their womankind. In the case of his motherless
girl, the Chancellor had enjoyed this pleasure to the full. To-day for
the first time he found himself face to face with the less convenient
side of the girl's character. She was an eminently reasonable person,
and though she could stick to her point she never did so without cause.
Therefore Elmur's affair promised to be awkward.

'What are your reasons?' he asked, after a pause.

'I do not--like Baron von Elmur.'

'That is unfortunate, but your dislike may be overcome when you know him
better.'

'Oh, no!--never!'

'Why not?'

'Is it possible to explain a dislike?' as