resident of the German Republic hold my hand once when his
wife wasn't looking. Nothing came of it," she added, with a little sigh.
"These Germans are terribly sentimental when it doesn't cost them
anything. They've no idea of a fair exchange."

"By a 'fair exchange' you mean," her aunt suggested, a little
censoriously, "that you expected him to barter his country's secrets for
a touch of your fingers?"

"Or my lips, perhaps," Maggie added, with a little grimace. "Please
don't look so serious, Aunt. I'm not really in love with Prince Shan,
you know, and to-night I rather feel like marrying Nigel, if I can get
him back again. I like his waistcoat buttons, and the way he has tied
his tie."

"Too late, my dear," Nigel warned her. "I give you formal notice. I
have transferred my affections."

"That decides me," Maggie declared firmly. "I shall collect you back
again. I hate to lose an admirer."

"The nonsense you young people talk!" Mrs. Bollington Smith observed, as
they reached the theatre.

Chalmers joined them soon after they had reached their box. He sank into
the empty place by Maggie's side which Nigel had just vacated and leaned
forward confidentially.

"So you've started the campaign," he whispered.

"How do you know?" she enquired.

"I was at the Ritz to-night," he told her, "at the far end of the room
with my Chief and two other men. We were behind you in the lounge
afterwards."

"I was so engrossed," Maggie murmured.

Chalmers paused for a moment to watch the performance. When he spoke
again, his voice, was, for him, unusually serious.

"Young lady," he said, "I told you on our first meeting my idea of
diplomacy. Truth! No beating about the bush--just the plain, unvarnished
truth! I have conceived an affection for you."

"Goodness gracious!" Maggie exclaimed softly. "Are you going to
propose?"

"Nothing," he assured her, "is farther from my thoughts. Lest I should
be misunderstood, let me substitute the term 'affectionate interest' for
'affection.' I have felt uneasy ever since I saw Prince Shan watching
you across the restaurant to-night."

"Did he really watch me?" Maggie asked complacently.

"He not only watched you," Chalmers assured her, "but he thought about
you--and very little else."

"Congratulate me, then," she replied. "I am on the way to success."

Chalmers frowned.

"I'm not quite so sure," he said. "You'll think I'm an illogical sort of
person, but I've changed my mind abo