"Prince, I have lost no time in doing what I promised, as I do not know
when I shall be recalled; I have therefore done my best to upset your
household arrangements by making Landsberg a captain in my Guards, and
one of my military secretaries. This will be confirmed as soon as he has
passed his examination, and then, of course, the matter rests with you.
Let us walk a little, shall we?"
He was very affected by what he considered the honour and kindness I had
shown him, and I thought that out of sight of the others he might
recover himself more quickly. I do not think that he had ever had much
consideration from his own countrymen, although he had done a great deal
for them. He was a splendid nobleman, both by rank and nature.
Having played the part of good fairy to the best of my ability, I once
again turned my thoughts to my own affairs, which, strange to say,
centred upon the Princess, and I was thinking of her when I rejoined the
group in the garden.
I found an extraordinary amount of agitation where I had left the
Princess and Mr. Neville talking quietly. Sonia, radiant and tearful,
Boris von Landsberg beside himself with joy, Mr. Neville smiling
broadly, with his eternal quizzical expression, and the Princess--I
don't know how to describe the expression upon her face, it was
indefinable, there was joy in it at the others' happiness, yet there was
a tinge of sadness there too. She glanced at me as I came up, but I
could not read the mystery of that look, I had no skill in reading a
woman's thoughts in her eyes.
"I know exactly what you want to say, mademoiselle, but there is no time
before tea, and after that we have to dress for dinner, so let us forget
about it. No, I mean it--well, there, if you must. Now the other hand
is jealous, so you must kiss that, too."
We were a merry party at tea that afternoon, for the joy of the engaged
couple was contagious, and none of us were really sober-minded until it
was time to dress; then I received a shock, for Mr. Neville came into my
room with me.
"Have you enjoyed your day, Victor?" he asked, smiling.
"Immensely, thanks."
"Good! and when did you propose leaving?"
"The day after to-morrow; why?"
"Because there was this from Zeula. I did not give it to you before,
not wishing to spoil your day, but he seems to think you are really
needed."