o one knew
anything for a fact, only that when she did come into the civilized
world, it was always with the Princess Torniloni and her father, who, if
they knew the truth of Mrs. Howard's story, never gave it away. Men
swarmed around her, but she appeared completely unconcerned and friendly
with them all, and not even the most envious of the other Americans who
were trying to climb into Princess Torniloni's exclusive society had
ever been able to make up any scandals about her.

"I have had such an enchanting walk, Clowdy, dear," the slim young woman
said as she sat down in a basket-chair near Mr. Cloudwater. "I am so
glad we came here, aren't you?--and I am sure it will do Moravia no end
of good. She passed me as I was coming from the Aberg on her way to Hans
Heiling, so she will not be in yet. Let us have tea."

The Arab called the waiter, who brought it to them. One or two other
little groups were having some, too, but Mr. Cloudwater's party were
singularly ungregarious, and avoided making acquaintances in hotels. He
and Mrs. Howard chatted alone together over theirs for about half an
hour. Presently there was the noise of a motor arriving. It whirled into
the gate and stopped where they usually do, a little at one side. It
was very dusty and travel-stained, and beside the chauffeur there got
out a tall, fair Englishman. The personnel of the hotel came forward to
meet him with empressement, and as he passed where Mr. Cloudwater and
Mrs. Howard were sitting, they heard him say:

"My servant brought the luggage by train this morning, so I suppose the
rooms are ready."

"They are a wonderful race," Mr. Cloudwater remarked, "aren't they,
Sabine. I never can understand why you should so persistently avoid
them--they really have much more in common with ourselves than Latins."

"That is why perhaps--one likes contrasts--and French and Russians, or
Germans, are far more intelligent. Every one to his taste!" and Mrs.
Howard smiled.

The Englishman came out again in a few minutes, and sitting down lazily,
as though he were alone upon the balcony terrace, he ordered some tea.
Not the remotest scrap of interest in his surroundings or companions lit
up his face. He might have been forty or forty-two, perhaps, but being
so fair he looked a good deal younger, and had a peculiar distinction of
his own.

"That is what I object to about them," Mrs. Howard remarked presently,
"their abominable arrogance. Look at that man. It