I
thought that I was back once more at Versailles, and in the presence of
my Queen."

She laughed softly.

"There may be no Versailles," she murmured, "but you will be a courtier
to the end of your days."

"At least," he said, "believe me that my congratulations come from my
heart. Your happiness is written in your face, and your husband must be
the proudest man in England."

He was standing now by her side, and he held out his hand to Mr. Sabin.

"I hope, sir," he said pleasantly, "that you bear me no ill-will."

"It would be madness," Mr. Sabin answered. "To be the most beautiful
peeress in England is perhaps for Helene a happier fate than to be the
first queen of a new dynasty."

"And you, uncle?" Helene said. "You are back from your exile then. How
often I have felt disposed to smile when I thought of you, of all men,
in America."

"I went into exile," Mr. Sabin answered, "and I found paradise. The
three years which have passed since I saw you last have been the
happiest of my life."

"Lucille!" Helene exclaimed.

"Is my wife," Mr. Sabin answered.

"Delightful!" Helene murmured. "She is with you then, I hope. Indeed, I
felt sure that I saw her the other night at the opera."

"At the opera!" Mr. Sabin for a moment was silent. He would have been
ashamed to confess that his heart was beating strongly, that a crowd
of eager questions trembled upon his lips. He recovered himself after a
moment.

"Lucille is not with me for the moment," he said in measured tones. "I
am detaining you from your guests, Helene. If you will permit me I will
call upon you."

"Won't you join us?" Lord Camperdown asked courteously. "We are only
a small party--the Portuguese Ambassador and his wife, the Duke of
Medchester, and Stanley Phillipson."

Mr. Sabin rose at once.

"I shall be delighted," he said.

Lord Camperdown hesitated for a moment.

"I present Monsieur le Due de Souspennier, I presume?" he remarked,
smiling.

Mr. Sabin bowed.

"I am Mr. Sabin," he said, "at the hotels and places where one travels.
To my friends I have no longer an incognito. It is not necessary."

It was a brilliant little supper party, and Mr. Sabin contributed at
least his share to the general entertainment. Before they dispersed he
had to bring out his tablets to make notes of his engagements. He stood
on the top of the steps above the palm-court to wish them good-bye,
leaning on his stick. Helene turned back and waved her hand.