are----'

'Happy!' Valerie could not forego the very womanly triumph, 'very happy!
And you made me so.'

'But,' said Isolde with some perplexity, 'you would have it that he did
not mean what he said.'

In her heart she thought Valerie a great goose for making any such
disclaimer. Vanity has knowledge of no tongue whereby to interpret
pride.

'No, but it showed me what he was.'

'I wonder how Baron von Elmur would like to hear that his future wife
was not ashamed to declare her love for another man!' retorted Isolde.

'I mean to tell him.'

'No, no, Valerie, don't!' exclaimed Madame de Sagan, whose weakness
exuded very often in a sort of kind-heartedness, 'I should not tell him.
Such a confidence is apt to turn sour in a husband's memory. You may
trust me--I will keep your secret.' Valerie smiled scornfully.

'But I can keep a secret! For instance, I want to hear where Captain
Rallywood is, because I know the Count hates him, and also,' she nodded
her head slowly, 'and also our dear friend Baron von Elmur.'

Valerie was startled.

'Baron von Elmur?' she repeated.

'Oh, you quite mistake the matter. The ill-feeling has nothing to do
whatever with you or with me. The Count and von Elmur hate him on very
different grounds. Everything appears to interest men now-a-days but
ourselves!' she ended sadly.

'Because he is English, perhaps?'

'Well, yes, it has something to do with it. You remember that last night
at the Castle? I conclude it was Jack who spoiled their plans when Simon
and the Baron went to the Duke's apartments.'

'The Count and Baron von Elmur together? What did they go for?'

The question dried up the little stream of babble.

'How should I know? But there was a fight--I'd back Jack against most
people! That is one reason I--liked him. We heard the shots, and though
I was horribly frightened I told you none of the particulars, yet I knew
all. Speak to me, Valerie! What are you thinking of?'

Valerie had been rapidly going over in her mind the incidents Isolde had
alluded to. For the first time she understood. There had been a German
plot which she had helped to defeat, a plot to place Count Sagan at the
head of the State, and the price he was to pay was the freedom of
Maasau. She must see her father before she slept and warn him of the
conspiracy, which although it had failed temporarily at the Castle of
Sagan was still in existence. She felt certain that her father knew
nothing of the Ger