ry, Monsieur Feurgeres has promised to tell it
to Mr. Greatson to-night."

I saw the Archduchess's teeth meet, and a spot of colour that burned in
her cheeks.

"You talk like a fool, child," she said fiercely. "You are being
deceived on every side. It is not fit that that man should come into
your presence. It is a disgrace that you should mention his name."

"Mr.--Monsieur Feurgeres has proved himself my friend," Isobel answered
quietly.

The Archduchess's eyes were burning. She was a woman of violent temper,
and it was fast becoming beyond her control.

"Child," she said, "I am your aunt, the daughter of the King of
Waldenburg. You, too, are of the same race. You know well that I speak
the truth. How dare you talk to me of a creature like Feurgeres? You
have our blood in your veins. I command you to come with me, and break
off at once and for ever these remarkable associations. You shall make
what return you will later on to those whom you may think"--she darted a
contemptuous glance at me--"have been your friends. But from this moment
I claim you. Come!"

Isobel looked her aunt in the face. She spoke courteously, but without
faltering.

"Madame," she said, "it is not possible for me to do as you ask.
Whatever plans are made for my future, it is to my dear friend here,"
she said, looking across at me with shining eyes, "that I owe
everything. And as for Monsieur Feurgeres, I have promised him to occupy
this box for this evening, and I shall do so."

The Archduchess was very white.

"You force me to tell you, child," she said. "This creature Feurgeres
was your mother's----"

"Your Highness!" I cried.

She stopped short and bit her lip. Isobel was very pale, but she pointed
to the door. The orchestra had commenced to play.

"Madame," she said, "Monsieur Feurgeres loved my mother. I shall keep my
word to him."

There was a soft knock at the door. Captain Milton stood on the
threshold.

"Your Highness," he said, bowing low, "the curtain will rise in thirty
seconds."

The Archduchess left us without a word.

CHAPTER XII

It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left
the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly
visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though
she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she
was not far from breaking down. So I called a hansom, and she sank back
in a corner with a little