she laughed. Then, suddenly, grew sober.
"By all means, let us have a frank talk," she said. "It was for that I
asked you here to-night--But, first, light me a cigarette, and then go
and sit down in that chair."

"Buy me with a smile," he said.

She bought him--then he did her bidding.

"I was silly enough to hope it was only I that you wanted to see," he
said.

"My note gave no ground for such hopes, Your Highness," she said. "I
told you exactly what I wanted--to discuss a matter of immediate
importance."

"Oh, yes, I know--but then I was still thinking of the Masque."

She looked at him naively. "Surely, Duke, you are old enough to know
that, of all follies, a Masque is chiefest and dies with the break of
day."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I am learning it, now, at any rate."

"And, don't forget, it was you who ended the pleasant promenade, to
pick a quarrel with the--Masque in Black."

"But with full purpose to resume it in a moment."

"After you had killed him? Very likely! Your sole thought would have
been to get away."

"And to take you with me," he added.

She laughed. "Nonsense, Duke; besides, I would not have gone."

"And the promenade?" he asked.

"With the Black Masque dead the promenade would have been no longer
necessary."

"Oh," said he: "I'm beginning to understand. You met me last night for
a particular purpose; and that, being frustrated by the duel, is the
reason for the appointment here this evening."

She was leaning idly back, and the fan had resumed its languid motions.

"Your Highness has stated it with charming exactness," she said.

His face grew stern; and I saw the hand, that hung beside his chair,
clench sharply. Mrs. Spencer saw it, too.

"Don't be angry, Duke," she laughed. "Be grateful for the privilege it
gives you of being here to-night."

Lotzen got up sharply and took a step toward the door.

"Going, Your Highness?" asked that softly-caressing voice.

He swung around. "No, I'm not going," he said--and sat down. "A man
would be a fool to leave you just because you treated him heartlessly."

This time, she lit the cigarette, voluntarily, and, leaning over, put
it between his lips.

"Is that the way you saw it done?" she asked.

He seized her hand and held it for a moment; but, when he bent over it,
she whisked it quickly away.

"Now, for the frank talk," she laughed.

"By all means," he said--and settled back to listen.

She toyed with h