olonel laughed, and the Colonel
knew why Maurice laughed; but neither could account for the laughter of
the princess. That was her secret.

All things come to an end, even diplomatic receptions. Soon the guests
began to leave.

Said the princess to Maurice: "Your invitation is a standing one,
Monsieur. To our friends there are no formalities. Good night; ah, yes,
the English fashion," extending her hand, which Maurice barely touched.
"Good night, Monsieur," to Beauvais, with one of those nods which wither
as effectually as frost.

The Colonel bent gracefully.

"Decidedly the Colonel is not in high favor tonight," thought Maurice;
"a fact which is eminently satisfactory to me. Ah; he looks as if he had
something to say to me. Let us wait."

"Monsieur, have you any other engagement this evening?" asked Beauvais,
swinging his pelisse over both shoulders. "If not, my rooms are quite
handy. I have capital cigars and cognacs. Will you do me the honor? I
should like to have you regale me with some Vienna gossip; it is so long
since I was there."

"Thanks," said Maurice. "I shall be happy to smoke your cigars and drink
your cognacs." He was in the mood for any adventure, comic or serious.
He had an idea what the Colonel wanted to say to him, and he was not
unwilling to listen. Besides, he had no fear; he now wore an amulet
close to his heart.

"Come, then," said Beauvais, gaily; and the two made off. "It is a
wonderful game of chess, this world of ours."

"Yes," said Maurice, "we do keep moving."

"And every now and then one or the other of us steps out into the dark."

"So we do." Maurice glanced from the corner of his eye and calculated
his chances in a physical contest with the Colonel. The soldier was
taller and broader, but it was possible for him to make good this
deficiency with quickness. But, above all, where and under what
circumstances had he met this man before?

"Here we are!" cried the Colonel, presently.

He led Maurice into one of the handsome dwellings which faced the palace
confines from the east. They passed up the stairs into a large room,
Oriental in its appointments, and evidently the living room. The walls
were hung with the paraphernalia of a soldier, together with portraits
of opera singers, horses and celebrities of all classes. On the mantel
Maurice saw, among other things, the glint of a revolver barrel. He
thought nothing of it then. It occurred to him as singular, however,
that the