--here, to-day;
gone to-morrow."

"You need several good stiff drinks," I interrupted.

He waved aside my banter. "I give you a toast," he went on, pouring a
measure for each of us. "The Princess Dehra--and another like her."

"And may you find that other," I cried.

Then we drained our glasses and flung them into the grate.

I was tremendously astonished at this revelation of Courtney's
feelings--feelings which I had never even suspected. And, I fear, I
had the bad taste to stare at him. For he turned abruptly and walked
to the window, and stood, for a moment, with his back to me. I drew on
my gloves and hitched up my sword (I was wearing the undress of a
general officer) and waited.

"Of course, you understood, last night, that there were no papers for
you to sign," he said, as he came slowly back to the table.

"Surely," I laughed.

"What I wanted was the opportunity to tell you that our secret service
will be at your command, and that I have given instructions to report
to me anything that may be of use to you--particularly, touching Lotzen
and his intimates."

"You are more than good, old chap," I said, and we shook hands
hard--for the toast was still in mind.

"Present my compliments to Her Highness," he called after me.

I went back to the doorway. "And give mine to The Other Like Her, when
she comes," I said.

"She will never come, Armand; she will never come. I am just an old
fool." Then he laughed. "Your love-making at dinner tables didn't use
to affect me."

"You never followed any of them by a moonlight ride with a pretty
girl," I answered.

"At least, never with one as pretty as Lady Helen," he amended.

I was getting surprises with a vengeance.

"Is it possible you have just discovered she is pretty?" I exclaimed.

He smiled frankly. "No--but it may be I've just discovered how pretty."

"And she's more than pretty," said I, "she's thoroughbred."

He studied me for a moment. "I have often wondered--and now I wonder
more than ever--why you--why you never---- You understand."

I nodded. "Yes," said I, "I understand and I rather reckon I would, if
it had not been that, a year before I ever saw the Lady Helen, I had
ridden with the Princess Dehra, alone, in the Palace forest, for an
hour."

At last, I saw Courtney's cold face show genuine surprise.

"And you made no effort then to prove your cousinship?" he exclaimed.

"No," said I.

"You let her go; and--and you a Da