staircase. "Several thin happened to mark that
day. For one, I had spilled a bottle of awful scent all over my dress
and I was in a state of odoriferous misery."

Paul laughed boyishly. "The mystery of my life is solved at last." He
explained, to her frank delight. "You've not changed a bit," said he.
"And oh! I can't tell you how good it is to meet you after all these
years."

"I'm very, very glad you feel so," she said significantly. "More than
glad. I was wondering ... but our dear Princess was right."

"It seems to me that-the Princess has been playing conspirator," said
Paul.

They entered the great dining-room, very majestic with its long,
glittering table, its service of plate, its stately pictures, its
double row of powdered and liveried footmen, and Paul learned, to his
amazement, that in violation of protocols and tables of precedence, his
seat was on the right hand of the Princess. Conspiracy again. Hitherto
at her parties he had occupied his proper place. Never before had she
publicly given him especial mark of her favour.

"Do you think she's right in doing this?" he murmured to Lady
Danesborough.

It seemed so natural that he should ask her--as though she were fully
aware of all his secrets.

"I think so," she smiled--as though she too were in the conspiracy.

They halted at their places, and there, at the centre of the long
table, on the right of the young Prince stood the Princess, with
flushed face and shining eyes, looking very beautiful and radiantly
defiant.

"Mechante," Paul whispered, as they sat down. "This is a trap."

"Je le sais. Tu est bien prise, petite souris."

It pleased her to be gay. She confessed unblushingly. Her little mouse
was well caught. The little mouse grew rather stern, and when the great
company had settled down, and the hum of talk arisen, he deliberately
scanned the table. He met some friendly glances--a Cabinet Minister
nodded pleasantly. He also met some that were hostile. His Sophie had
tried a dangerous experiment. In Lady Danesborough, the Maisie Shepherd
of his urchindom, whose name he had never known, she had assured him a
sympathetic and influential partner. Also, although he had tactfully
not taken up that lady's remark, he felt proud of his Princess's
glorious certainty that he would have no false and contemptible shame
in the encounter. She had known that it would be a joy to him; and it
was. The truest of the man was stirred. They talked and laughed