using glance. "Ladies and gentlemen, what did I tell you? I--do--
believe--"

She paused dramatically, every eye turned fully and searchingly upon the
handsome face and erect figure so calmly and easily confronting this
sudden criticism.

"Well?" he said at last. "What is it you believe?"

"You've seen--her," burst out Mrs Jefferson eagerly. "Now Colonel, no
tricks--plain yes or no; I'm certain sure you've seen her--my Mystery.
Haven't you?"

"I will not pretend," he said, "to misunderstand you. I have met an old
friend, and I hope soon to have the pleasure of introducing her to you
all. Not with any mystery about her, as our American friend seems
determined to suppose, but simply as the Princess Zairoff--of whom you
may have heard before this."

There was a buzz--a stir--a confused murmur. "Heard of her--I should
think so. You never mean to say she's _here_? I thought she was in
Russia--"

"Gracious!" almost shrieked Mrs Jefferson. "Why it was her husband who
died so mysteriously, on the eve of that awful conspiracy. You never
mean to say, Colonel Estcourt, that you know her. Why she's one of the
celebrities of Europe, and to come here, to this quiet place--and
_incognito_?"

"Do you not think," he said, "that the fact of being quiet and unknown
would just be the one fact she would appreciate? I hope I am not
claiming too much from your courtesy when I say that the privilege of
her society can only be obtained by a due regard to her wishes in that
respect. She wishes only to be known as Madame Zairoff, here."

"I'm sure," exclaimed Mrs Jefferson eagerly, "I'm only too willing to
promise anything for the privilege of seeing her. Isn't that the
general opinion also?"

There was a murmur of assent, specially eager on the part of the men.

"I can only assure you," continued Colonel Estcourt gravely, "that you
will not regret the slight inconvenience of repressing personal
curiosity, for Madame Zairoff is a woman whose gifts and graces are of a
marvellous nature and calculated to delight the most critical society.
As Mrs Jefferson told us, she is here for her health. It is an
incident we cannot deplore if we are to benefit by her society."

"You'd better all look out for your hearts, gentlemen," laughed Mrs
Jefferson gaily and excitedly. "I assure you I don't believe there's
another woman in the world like her. I've seen her under trying
circumstances, and I give you my word of honour that a