I'm rather surprised myself. It would sound
queer, to some people in America, but I have actually tried, for once
in my life, to keep faith to the end. But it is as I always
thought--not worth the while. I'll know better again."
Then, she got up and, going behind her chair, leaned over the back.
"Does Your Highness realize what my going to the Governor means to
you?" she asked.
"I don't seem to be able to follow your argument," he said; "and I'm a
poor guesser of riddles."
"It means that I shall have to tell the whole ugly story of how I
chanced to come to Dornlitz to pose as the wife of the Grand Duke
Armand."
He took a fresh cigarette and carefully lit it. "But, my dear girl,"
he said, "I don't see how that would affect me?"
She laughed.
"Still the _premier artiste_! Well, play it out. If you want to hear
what you already know it's no trouble to tell you. Shall I begin at
the very beginning?"
"By all means!" said he. "Maybe, then, I can catch the point."
"Listen," said she. "For many years I have known Armand Dalberg. One
day, several months ago, there came a man to me, in the City of New
York. How he happened to find me is no matter.
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