"And the promenade?" he asked.
"With the Black Masque dead the promenade would have been no longer
necessary."
"Oh," said he: "I'm beginning to understand. You met me last night for
a particular purpose; and that, being frustrated by the duel, is the
reason for the appointment here this evening."
She was leaning idly back, and the fan had resumed its languid motions.
"Your Highness has stated it with charming exactness," she said.
His face grew stern; and I saw the hand, that hung beside his chair,
clench sharply. Mrs. Spencer saw it, too.
"Don't be angry, Duke," she laughed. "Be grateful for the privilege it
gives you of being here to-night."
Lotzen got up sharply and took a step toward the door.
"Going, Your Highness?" asked that softly-caressing voice.
He swung around. "No, I'm not going," he said--and sat down. "A man
would be a fool to leave you just because you treated him heartlessly."
This time, she lit the cigarette, voluntarily, and, leaning over, put
it between his lips.
"Is that the way you saw it done?" she asked.
He seized her hand and held it for a moment; but, when he bent over it,
she whisked it quickly away.
"Now, for the frank talk," she laughed.
"By all means," he said--and settled back to listen.
She toyed with her cigarette; blowing the smoke at the shade and
watching it rush out at the top. It seemed to be a favorite trick of
hers.
"Of course, Your Highness is aware that, by order of the Governor of
Dornlitz, I am kept a prisoner within the walls of the inner city."