"
"And the American newspapers would have missed a great news item," I
added.
"I never quite appreciated what a wonder you were until they told me,"
he laughed. "You seem to possess a marvellous assortment of
talents--and, as for bravery, they have had you leading every charge in
the Spanish War."
"It's all very tiresome," I said.
"It's one of the penalties of Royalty--to be always in the limelight
and never in the shadow," he returned. "How does it feel?"
"Come around to-night to the Royal Box at the Opera and get into the
glare, a bit," I said. "I am to take the King's place and escort the
Princess."
"Is that a command?" he asked.
"Hang it all, Courtney----" I exclaimed.
"Because, if it isn't," he went on, "I shall have to decline. I'm
dining with the Radnors and going on to the Opera with them."
I looked at him expectantly for a moment, giving him an opening to
mention Lady Helen; but he only smiled and lit another cigarette. I
understood he declined the opening. Indeed, he had never referred to
Lady Helen since that first surprising time. But, if the gossip of the
Diplomatic set, which, of course, reached the Court promptly, were at
all reliable, another International marriage was not improbable.
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