aid, presently.

"I fear I missed it," I replied.

"Queer, surely--it was about Lady Helen. I asked if she were not
beautiful to-night."

"She is always very handsome," I said. "And she looks particularly
well in blue."

Dehra smiled slyly. "It's the same gown she wore at the Birthday Ball."

I bit my lip--then, suddenly, I got very brave.

"Tell me," I said. "How did you know I kissed her, that night?"

"I saw it."

"The Dev--! Oh!" I exclaimed. I was brave no longer. I got
interested in the opera. Presently, I ventured to glance at Dehra--she
was laughing behind her fan. Then I ventured again.

"I hope," said I, "I did it nicely."

"Most artistically, my dear Armand. Escamillo, yonder, could not do it
more cleverly."

I winced. It is not especially flattering to an Archduke to be classed
with a toreador--and Carmen's toreador, least of all. Yet, I
recognized the justice of the punishment. Bravery had failed twice; it
was time to be humble.

"I am sorry, Dehra," I said.

"Of course you are, sir, very sorry--that I saw you.--And so was I,"
she added.

"Was?" I echoed.

"It gave me _un mauvais quart d'heure_."

"No longer than that?" tasked.

"No; it lasted only until I had you to myself on the terrace, a little
later."

"And then?" I queried.

"Then? Then I was no longer jealous of the Lady Helen. Your eyes told
me there was no need."

"There never has been anyone but you, my darling," I whispered.

"And never will be, Armand?" she asked.

"Please God, never," I said; and, forgetting where we were, I made as
though to take her hand.

"Not now," she smiled. "Wait until after the Opera."

"It will be a longer wait than that," I said regretfully. "I have told
Courtney I would invite the Radnors and him to take supper with me on
the Hanging Garden, to-night."

"Why don't you say 'take supper with _us_'?"

"You mean it, Dehra?" I asked in surprise. "You have always refused,
hitherto; and I have asked so often."

She smiled. "Hitherto was different from now," she said.

"Thank God for the now," I added.

"We might bid them here for the last act," she suggested.

"I have presumed to hint as much to Courtney," I said; and told her how
it had all come about in my talk with him that morning.

"Delightful!" she exclaimed. "And we will have a jolly party on the
Garden--and let us be just like ordinary folk and have a public
table--only, a little apart, of course."

"I