"So far as I am concerned," I said, "I pray you do nothing of the sort.
The lady does not bother me in the slightest. Besides, she will not
know I'm here--and I shall not present myself to her, you may be sure."
"Yet, we owe Your Highness an explanation of her presence," the
Marquise exclaimed.
"My dear Madame de Vierle, you owe me nothing of the sort," I said. "I
am still enough of an American to think that a hostess is never called
upon to explain a guest. And, what is more, the whole difficulty is of
my own making, in coming after I had declined."
"Surely, Your Highness is very gracious; yet, I would very much prefer
to explain," she said. "It was this way: Madeline Stafford and I were
friends and schoolmates in Paris. We both married about the same time
and, then, lost touch with each other. I had neither seen nor heard
from her until I received a note some weeks ago. After Your Highness
regretted for to-night, I sent her a card. I mentioned the matter to
the Duke of Lotzen and he said that, under the circumstances, and as
everyone would be masked, it would be entirely proper. That is my
explanation."
"And one amply sufficient; even if any were required," I said.