"
He looked at her steadily a moment.
"What better reason could I have than that you are the most beautiful
woman in Valeria?"
She put her fan before her face.
"Your Highness's compliment is very delicate," she laughed.
"It wasn't meant for a compliment," he answered. "If you have looked
in your mirror, to-night, you know I speak the simple truth."
She got up and went over to a great glass, on the opposite wall.
Lotzen followed her, and they stood there, a bit, looking in it.
"You like me in black?" she asked, smiling at him in the mirror.
"I like you in anything," he answered--and made as though to put his
arm around her waist.
She swung quickly away from him--just out of reach.
"Even in a gypsy dress?" she asked.
"It was charming--but, I think I prefer this," and he nodded toward her
gleaming shoulders.
She made a gesture of dissent, and they went back to the table. Lotzen
drew a small chair close and sat staring at her. She studied her fan
and waited.
Then he hooked his hands about his knee and leaned back.
"Do you know," he said, "it's a crying shame you are married to my dear
cousin."
She looked him full in the face--and smiled.
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