"No one in America but myself knew he had been to Valeria."
She smiled.
I saw the blunder. "It happened he knew of my Dalberg descent," I
hastened to add.
"Has he ever mentioned an adventure in the forest near the Summer
Palace?"
"I am quite sure he has not," I said, but without looking at her.
Then I felt a touch on my arm--and I took her gloved fingers in my own
and held them.
"You are very good, cousin," she said, then loosed her hand.
"When did you recognize me?" I asked.
"When you kissed me. That was why I was so angry."
"I noticed you were annoyed."
"Yet, I was more disappointed."
"Yes?" I inflected.
"To have my ideal Captain Smith shattered so completely."
"But when you learned it was your cousin?"
"That saved the ideal."
"But I cannot live up to the Captain."
She shook her head. "There is no need. The Captain is dead. It is my
cousin Armand now."
"But every woman has her ideal," I ventured.
"Yes, I shall have to find a new one."
"Then it's only exit the Captain to enter a stranger," I said.
"Not necessarily a stranger," she returned.
"To be sure," I agreed; "there is His Royal Highness, the Duke of
Lotzen."
"Or Casimir of Titia," she added, drawing down her mouth. "Or even my
new-found cousin Armand."
"He died with the Captain," I laughed.
"No, the Captain died with him."
"I think, as a matter of proper precaution, it would be well to go in,"
I said.
"Are you tired of me, so soon?"
"You know very well it's because I'm fearful of disgracing the Captain
again."
"Please don't," she said smilingly, "here comes a friend of yours."
It was Courtney with Lady Helen on his arm.
"Two friends of mine," I said, as they passed.
"You know Lady Helen Radnor?"
"After a fashion. I was stationed in Washington while Lord Radnor was
Ambassador there."
"You two would suit each other."
"Yes?"
"You both are--shall I say it--flirts."