mpliments. But will you first come and have a brief chat
with me?"

Was there anything he could more ardently desire? To gaze for a few
moments into those beautiful eyes, to listen to those soft, kind
tones--were not a few moments spent like this worth much more than all
the applause he had received?

She led him to a small divan in the spacious salon, that was
fortunately not occupied. She sat at one end, he at the other; but
they were not very distant.

He was very agitated. His close proximity to this beautiful young
woman, the product of centuries of high breeding, the delight of her
presence, the perfume that stole to him from her abundant hair, the
hundred and one subtle allurements that a daughter of the classes
possessed for a son of the people, intoxicated him. She was indeed the
woman of his dreams, a star set so high in the firmament that he could
only gaze respectfully at its light.

She brought him to earth with the simple question: "You must be very
tired after your fatigues of the day and night; it is some time past
twelve now. How do you propose to return to your hotel? I suppose you
have your carriage waiting to take you back?"

She had put the question in her subtle, woman's way. She knew it was a
fad of Corsini's that he would never ride or drive where he could
walk. When he was rallied upon it by his few intimate friends, he
always gave the same explanation that he proffered now.

"It is an eccentricity of mine, Princess, that I always walk wherever
I can. Shall I tell you why?"

Nada looked at him kindly. "Yes, tell me why. I cannot tell you
whether it is an eccentricity until I know the reason. Personally, I
am a very lazy person, and never walk when I can ride."

Corsini leaned towards her. He could inhale the fragrance of her hair,
the stronger perfume that came from the roses she wore in her corsage.

"Princess, may I reveal to you some of my inmost cherished
aspirations?" His eyes were glowing, he spoke with unusual vehemence.

"I should be honoured to receive your confidences," replied the
Princess softly.

"Ah, then, since you are so indulgent, I will tell you. My career up
to a few months ago was an obscure one. Music is in my blood, as it is
in yours. Am I not right?"

"Yes," replied the Princess, in an even softer voice than before.
"Music is in my blood, too. Everything fades into insignificance
beside those lovely rapturous sounds, such as you and a few other
great artist