or herself.

"What was it you asked about that note?" she said, and gave me one of
those subduing smiles.

I dropped my hand below the table and found her fingers. "You meant
it, Dehra; truly?" I asked.

Sue released her fingers and placed both hands on the cloth. "Of
course I meant it--when I wrote it," she said.

"That's quite as much as I've any right to expect," I answered.

"That's the proper frame of mind, cousin," said she.

"And the sort you prefer in your admirers?"

She raised her eyebrows--"In my relatives--undoubtedly."

"Come," said I, "we must not quarrel."

"It would be the regular thing; I fight with all my relatives."

A footman handed the King a card, received a message, and withdrew.

"Then let me prove an exception," I cut in.

"I am quite willing; squabbles are so stupid."

"Speaking of cousins; have you quarrelled with Lotzen?"

"Scores of times; we are in the distant bowing stage now."

"Good," said I. "I trust it will continue indefinitely."

"We always make up and get very chummy after he has been absent for any
time," she returned.

"I wonder how he will view his new cousin?" I said.

The Princess laughed. "With considerable surprise, I fancy;
particularly if he meet you in that uniform in a dimly-lighted corridor
of the palace, at night."

"Have the Dalbergs no ghost such as is appurtenant to all
well-regulated royal families?"

"Alas! We have not; but you could give us a fine one."

"Well, I won't," I said.

"And yet, who knows?" she reflected with sudden seriousness; "your very
resemblance to yonder picture may, sometime, be of service to you."

"Then, I shall not hesitate to use it."

"At any rate, I hope I shall be by when my cousin of Lotzen gets his
first look at you."

"As the family spectre or _in propria persona_?"

"As both; but _in persona_, first," she said.

Just then, the corridor door swung back, and a voice announced:

"His Royal Highness, the Duke of Lotzen!"

The Princess caught her breath, in surprise, and glanced quickly at the
King.

"Does His Highness always grant your wishes so promptly?" I asked.

But she did not hear me. She was watching the Duke as he advanced to
the King and bent knee.

And I, too, watched him; and with interest--this man, with whom I
proposed to make a contest for the throne.

He had the grace of one reared in Courts and the ease of one born to
high command. He made me feel awkward even as I sat. His