d.

"Come, no sugar--out with it."

"Well, Your Highness, the town rings with it. It's the sensation of the
hour."

"Good," said I. "The more they talk, to-day, the less they will talk,
to-morrow."

I paused, and looked him over. He was a thorough-bred; clean-cut,
handsome, manly. I never saw a finer figure than he made in his blue and
white uniform.

"Now, why wasn't the lady sensible, Colonel, and marry herself to you
instead of to me?" I asked.

He fairly jumped. "God forbid," he exclaimed. Then, he laughed.
"Besides, I'm thinking, sir, it wasn't looks she was after."

I laughed, too. "Go 'long with you," I said; "you deserve court-martial."

Then I sent him to the King with the request to be received at seven
o'clock. He also carried a note to the Princess, telling her I would
call at six thirty.

In due time, he returned: The King would receive me at the hour named.
The Princess, however, sent her reply by a footman. It was a note; and,
except that I was expected for sure at _six thirty_, it is quite
unnecessary to give its contents. They were not intended for general
circulation. I might say, however, that the note was eminently
satisfactory to me, and that I read it more than once. And it was in the
inside pocket of my coat when I rode across to Headquarters to assume my
new authority.

The ceremony was very brief. The retiring Governor, Marshal Perdez, with
an Aide, met me at the causeway and escorted me to the large audience
chamber, where His Majesty's formal order was read. Perdez then
presented his staff, and the doors were thrown open and I received the
officers of the Army and Navy on duty at the Capital. It was all over in
an hour, and I was alone in my office with Bernheim.

I walked over to a window and stood there, in wondering reflection.

Less than three months ago, I was simply a Major in the American Army,
with small hope of ever getting beyond a Colonel's eagles. The "Star"
was so utterly unlikely that I never even considered the possibility. It
was only a rainbow or a mirage; and I was not given to chasing either.

And, to-day, I looked down on the crowded Alta Avenue of Dornlitz--then,
up at the portrait of my Sovereign--then, down at my uniform, with a
Marshal's Insignia on the sleeve and the Princess Royal's note in the
pocket.

What mirage could have pictured such realities! What rainbow could have
appeared more dazzlingly evanescent!

Then I saw a Victor