trangers to the Russian count; but his
English host, with sincere kindness and courtesy, took care to present
him to all the most agreeable persons present.

"And now," whispered Lord C--n, in conclusion, "I have reserved the best
for the last. Come and let me introduce you to the most interesting woman
in Paris."

Count de Volaski suffered himself to be conducted to the upper end of the
room, where a tall and elegant-looking woman, dressed in rich mourning,
stood, leaning on the arm of a stately, middle-aged man.

Her face was averted as they approached; but she turned her head and he
recognized the beautiful, pale face and lovely dark eyes of his lost
bride.

And while the floor of the drawing-room seemed rocking with him, like the
deck of a tempest-tossed ship, he heard the words of his host whirling
through his brain:

"Madame, permit me to present to you Count de Volaski of St. Petersburg;
Count, the Duchess of Hereward."

CHAPTER XXXV.

FACE TO FACE.

"Madame, permit me to present to you Count de Volaski, of St.
Petersburg--Count, the Duchess of Hereward," said Lord C., with old-time
courtesy and formality.

The gentleman bowed low; the lady courtesied; nothing but the close
compression of his lips beneath the golden mustache, and the paler shade
on her pale cheeks, betrayed the "whirlwind of emotion" which swept
through both their hearts; and these indications of disturbance were too
slight to attract any attention.

Neither spoke, neither dared to speak. It was as much as each could do to
maintain a conventional calmness through the terrible ordeal of such an
introduction.

Lord C., happily unconscious of anything wrong, did the very best thing
he could have done under the circumstances. Scarcely allowing the count
and the duchess time to exchange their bow and courtesy, he turned to her
companion and said:

"Duke, the Count de Volaski. Count, the Duke of Hereward."

Both gentlemen bowed; but _one_, the count, quivered from head to
foot in the presence of his unconscious but successful rival.

"By the way, Count," said the duke, pleasantly, "the duchess, when
Mademoiselle de la Motte, passed a year at the court of St. Petersburg
with her parents. It is a wonder that you have not met before. Although,
indeed, you may have done so," he added, as with an after-thought.

"We have met before," replied the Count de Volaski, in a low and measured
tone.

"Of course! Of course! You are quite