rt. I
was rather abstracted during the performance, and many of my replies
went wide the mark.

As we were leaving the foyer, Phyllis said: "Jack, a man has been
staring me out of countenance."

"Pembroke?" I laughed.

"No. And moreover, the stare was accompanied by the most irritating
sneer."

"Point him out to me when we reach the street," I said, humoring what I
thought to be a fancy, "and I'll put a head on him."

The sneer was probably meant for an ogle. Beauty has its annoyances as
well as its compensations. As we came under the glare of the outside
lights, Phyllis's hand tightened on my arm.

"Look! there he is, and he is making for us."

At the sight of that face with its hooked nose, its waxed mustache and
imperial, I took a deep breath and held it. In the quick glance I saw
that his right arm hung stiffly at his side. I attempted to slip into
the crowd, but without success. He lifted his hat, smiling into the
astonished face of Phyllis.

"The Princess Hildegarde--" But with those three words the sentence on
his lips came to an end. Amazement replaced the smile. He stepped
back. Phyllis's eyes expressed scornful surprise. What she understood
to be rudeness I knew to be a mistake. He had mistaken her to be
Gretchen, just as I had mistaken Gretchen to be Phyllis. It was a
situation which I enjoyed. All this was but momentary. We passed on.

"Was the man crazy?" asked Phyllis, as we moved toward the carriages,
where we saw Pembroke waving his hand.

"Not exactly crazy," I answered.

"The Princess Hildegarde; did he not call me that?"

"He did."

"He must have mistaken me for some one else, then."

"The very thing," said I. "I wonder what he is doing here in London?"

"Mercy! do you know him?"

"Slightly." We were almost at the carriage. "I am sorry to say that
he is a great personage in this very court which you are so soon to
grace."

"How strange! I'm afraid we shan't get on."

Pembroke and I dismissed our carriage. We were going back to the club.
Ethel and her husband were already seated in their carriage.

Said Phyllis as I assisted her to enter; "And who is this Princess
Hildegarde?"

"The most beautiful woman in all the world," I answered with
enthusiasm. "You will meet her also."

"I do not believe I shall like her either," said Phyllis. "Good
night;" and the door swung to.

Pembroke and I made off for the club. . . . Perhaps it was my
enthusiasm.