o intention of gratifying her, even if I had to be rude to her
deliberately.

She passed her hand across her brow and stared at me incredulously. I
turned half aside and glanced around the table. Every face but three
showed blank amazement. Of those three, the Princess's wore a tolerant
smile; Lotzen's a frown; but Courtney's was set in almost a sneer.
And, at it, I marvelled. Later, I understood; he had, by some queer
intuition, guessed what was to follow.

When I came back to Mrs. Spencer her expression had changed. The
incredulous look was gone; bright anger flamed, instead.

"Do you still persist, sir, that you do not know my rightful name?" she
demanded.

From my previous acquaintance with the lady I knew she was working
herself into a passion; though, why, I could not imagine.

"My dear Madame," I said, "why such pother over such a trifle? If your
name be, no longer, Madeline Spencer, tell me what it is. I shall be
profoundly glad to call you by it--or any name than Spencer," I added.

She felt the thrust and her eyes answered it. Then, suddenly, she
turned and faced those at the table.

"Your pardon," she said, speaking straight at Lord Radnor, "will you
tell me if this man here"--waving her hand toward me--"is Major Armand
Dalberg?"

Lord Radnor bowed. "That gentleman is His Royal Highness the Grand
Duke Armand of Valeria," he said.

"Erstwhile, Major of Engineers in the American Army?" she asked.

"I believe so, Madame," said his Lordship, stiffly.

"Thank you," she said. "And now----"

But I broke in. "Madame," I said sharply, "you have presumed beyond
forbearance. Major Moore, will you escort the lady to her companions."

Moore stepped forward and, bowing very low, offered his arm. Like a
flash, her face changed and she met him with a smile.

"Just a moment, if you please," she said, with softest accents. Then,
with studied deliberation, she turned her back on me and swept the
Princess an elaborate courtesy.

"Your Royal Highness may pardon my intrusion," she said, "when I tell
you that I am Armand Dalberg's wife---- Now, Major Moore, I am ready,"
and she put her hand upon his arm.

But Moore never moved. Instead, he looked at me for orders.

Language is utterly inadequate to describe my feelings at that moment;
so I shall not try. Imagination is better than words. I know I had an
almost uncontrollable impulse for violence--and I fancy Courtney feared
it, for he stepped