d back in her chair with a
little sigh of supreme content. Whatever might now betide, her mission
was fulfilled, if she once got quietly away. The complete details of the
most important society event of the season were at her fingers' ends.
She closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy the satisfaction which success
leaves in its train, and when she opened them again found Lord Donal in
his old posture, absorbed in the contemplation of her undeniable beauty.

"I see you are determined I shall have no difficulty in remembering you
next time we meet," she said with a smile, at the same time flushing
slightly under his ardent gaze.

"I was just thinking," he replied, shifting his position a little, "that
the five years which have dealt so hardly with me, have left you five
years younger."

"Age has many privileges, Lord Donal," she said to him, laughing
outright; "but I don't think you can yet lay claim to any of them.
The pose of the prematurely old is not in the least borne out by your
appearance, however hardly the girl you met in Washington dealt with
you."

"Ah, Princess, it is very easy for you to treat these serious matters
lightly. He laughs at scars who never felt a wound. Time, being above
all things treacherous, often leaves the face untouched the more
effectually to scar the heart. The hurt concealed is ever the more
dangerous."

"I fancy it has been concealed so effectually that it is not as deep as
you imagined."

"Princess, I will confess to you that the wound at Washington was as
nothing to the one received at London."

"Yes; you told me you had been here for a week."

"The week has nothing to do with it. I have been here for a night--for
two hours--or three; I have lost count of time since I met you."

What reply the girl might have made to this speech, delivered with all
the fervency of a man in thorough earnest, will never be known, for at
that moment their _tete-a-tete_ was interrupted by a messenger, who
said,--

"His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador begs to be permitted to pay his
regards to the Princess von Steinheimer."

Lord Donal Stirling never took his eyes from the face of his companion,
and he saw a quick pallor overspread it. He leaned forward and
whispered,--

"I know the Ambassador; if you do not wish to meet him, I will intercept
him."

Jennie rose slowly to her feet, and, looking at the young man with a
calmness she was far from feeling, said coldly,--

"Why should I not