Morris and Carlton drove up to the hotel from the ball, the
Princess Aline was leaning over the balcony and watching the lights go
out in the upper part of the house, and the moonlight as it fell on the
trees and statues in the public park below. Her foot was still in
bandages, and she was wrapped in a long cloak to keep her from the
cold. Inside of the open windows that led out on to the balcony her
sisters were taking off their ornaments, and discussing the incidents
of the night just over.

The Princess Aline, unnoticed by those below, saw Carlton help Mrs.
Downs to alight from the carriage, and then give his hand to another
muffled figure that followed her; and while Mrs. Downs was ascending
the steps, and before the second muffled figure had left the shadow of
the carriage and stepped into the moonlight, the Princess Aline saw
Carlton draw her suddenly back and kiss her lightly on the cheek, and
heard a protesting gasp, and saw Miss Morris pull her cloak over her
head and run up the steps. Then she saw Carlton shake hands with them,
and stand for a moment after they had disappeared, gazing up at the
moon and fumbling in the pockets of his coat. He drew out a cigar-case
and leisurely selected a cigar, and with much apparent content lighted
it, and then, with his head, thrown back and his chest expanded, as
though he were challenging the world, he strolled across the street and
disappeared among the shadows of the deserted park.

The Princess walked back to one of the open windows, and stood there
leaning against the side. "That young Mr. Carlton, the artist," she
said to her sisters, "is engaged to that beautiful American girl we met
the other day."

"Really!" said the elder sister. "I thought it was probable. Who told
you?"

"I saw him kiss her good-night," said the Princess, stepping into the
window, "as they got out of their carriage just now."

The Princess Aline stood for a moment looking thoughtfully at the
floor, and then walked across the room to a little writing-desk. She
unlocked a drawer in this and took from it two slips of paper, which
she folded in her hand. Then she returned slowly across the room, and
stepped out again on to the balcony.

One of the pieces of paper held the picture Carlton had drawn of her,
and under which he had written: "This is she. Do you wonder I
travelled four thousand miles to see her?" And the other was the
picture of Carlton himself, which she had cut out