"But I thought yours an old American family. Didn't you tell me, one
day at Mount Vernon, that a Dalberg fought with Washington?"
It was my turn to be surprised. I had long forgotten both the
circumstance and the remark. "And I told you truly enough," I answered.
She frowned a bit; then shook her head. "I cannot understand," she
said.
Doubtless I was foolish--Courtney would have called it something
stronger--but, nevertheless, I told her the story of Hugo. For the
benefit of the scoffer let me say that the Lady Helen could be very
fetching when she was so minded, and this was our first meeting in four
years.
"How romantic!" she exclaimed, when I had finished my tale. "Father
will be so interested."
I almost tumbled out of the chair. "Lord Radnor will not have the
opportunity to be interested," I said sharply. "You may not tell him,
nor anyone."
"Certainly not, if you wish it," she said instantly.
I thought she could be trusted; but it would do no harm to give her a
bit of warning as to the situation.
"None but the King, the Princess and Courtney knows of this
relationship," I said.
She regarded me with an amused smile. "Which means, if it become
known, I alone could be the tattler."
There was no need to press the point further.
"It is His Majesty's secret as well as mine," I said, as if in
explanation.
She shrugged her pretty shoulders. "I shall keep it because
it's--yours," she answered.
There was no doubt Lady Helen could be fetching when she was so minded.