id, clenched the hand of the Princess which
happened to lie within immediate reach. A wave of curiosity, arresting
talk, spread swiftly down. There was an uncanny, dead silence, broken
only by a raucous voice proceeding from a very fat Lord of Appeal some
distance away:

"After my bath I always lie flat on my back and bring my knees up to my
chin."

There was a convulsive, shrill gasp of laughter, which would have
instantly developed into an hysterical roar, had not the young Prince,
with quick, tactful disregard of British convention, sprung to his
feet, and with one hand holding champagne glass, and the other
uplifted, commanded silence. So did the stars in their courses still
fight for Paul. "My lords, ladies and gentlemen," said the Prince, "I
have the pleasure to announce the engagement of Her Highness the
Princess Sophie Zobraska and Mr. Paul Savelli. I ask you to drink to
their health and wish them every happiness."

He bowed to the couple, lifted his glass, and standing, swept a quick
glance round the company, and at the royal command the table rose,
dukes and duchesses and Cabinet Ministers, the fine flowers of England,
and drank to Paul and his Princess.

"Attrape!" she whispered, as they got up together, hand in hand. And as
they stood, in their superb promise of fulfilment, they conquered. The
Princess said: "Mais dis quelque chose, toi."

And Paul met the flash in her eyes, and he smiled. "Your Royal
Highness, my lords, ladies and gentlemen," said he, while all the
company were racking their brains to recall a precedent for such
proceedings at a more than formal London dinner party; "the Princess
and myself thank you from our hearts. For me this might almost seem the
end of the fairy-tale of my life, in which--when I was eleven years
old--her ladyship the Countess of Danesborough" (he bowed to the Maisie
of years ago), "whom I have not seen from that day to this, played the
part of Fairy Godmother. She gave me a talisman then to help me in my
way through the world. I have it still." He held up the cornelian
heart. "It guided my steps to my dearest lady, Miss Winwood, in whose
beloved service I lived so long. It has brought me to the feet of my
Fairy Princess. But now the fairy-tale is over. I begin where the
fairy-tales end"--he laughed into his Sophie's eyes--"I begin in the
certain promise of living happy ever afterwards."

In this supreme hour of his destiny there spoke the old, essential
Paul, t