alone. You appealed to me," with a directness which amazed me,
"because of your handsome face, your elegant form, your bright eyes.
You are a man who loves adventure which has the spice of danger in it.
My countrymen----." She crooked one of her bare shoulders, which shone
like yellow ivory in the subdued light. This rank flattery cooled me.
A woman who has any regard for a man is not likely to flatter him in
respect to his looks on so short and slight an acquaintance.
"Monsieur," she proceeded, "this is to be no escapade, no caprice. I
ask your aid as a desperate woman. At court I can find no one to
succor me, save at the peril of that which is dearer to me than my
life. Among the commoners, who would dare? An Englishman? It is too
much trouble. A Frenchman? I would trust him not quite so far as the
door. You are the first American, not connected with the legation, I
have ever met. Will you help me?"

"If what you ask me to do is within my capabilities, I am yours to
command."

"The reward will be small," as if to try me. I laughed. I was so
insanely happy, I suppose. "There will be danger," she persisted;
"secret danger: there will be scandal."

"The more danger, the merrier," I cried.

"Ah, yes," smiling; "it is the man of Balkistan."

I leaned over the table and inhaled the ineffable perfumes which
emanated from her person. "Tell me, from what must I succor the
Princess? Is she a prisoner in a castle over which some ogre rules?
Well, then, I'll be Sir Galahad."

My jesting tone jarred on her nerves. She straightened in her chair.

"Monsieur is amused," she said coldly.

"And he asks a thousand pardons!" I cried contritely. "Command me,"
and I grew chilled and serious.

"You have heard that I am to wed Prince Ernst of Wortumborg?"

"Yes." I gnawed the ends of my mustache.

"Monsieur, it is against my will, my whole being. I have no desire to
contribute a principality and a wife to a man who is not worthy of one
or the other. I refuse to become the King's puppet, notwithstanding
his power to take away my principality and leave me comparatively
without resources. I detest this man so thoroughly that I cannot hate
him. I abhor him. It is you who must save me from him; it is you who
must also save me my principality. Oh, they envy me, these poor
people, because I am a Princess, because I dwell in the tinsel glitter
of the court. Could they but know how I envy their lives, their hom