The Washington herald., 1912-09-15

| bowlng low. 1t IS some years since
we met, but / had the honor of dance
at the palace in Madrid"
She held out her hand at once. vet
somehow Peter felt sure that she was
thankful for her veil Her voice was
pheasant and her air the air of great
lady.
Il remember the occasion perfectly
masquis," she admitted. ''Your sister
and l once shared villa in Mentone"
Il am fattered by your recollection
duchesse," Sogrange murmured.
1T is great surprise to meet with
you here, though" she continued Il
did not see you at Cherbourg or on the
train"
q motored from Paris" Sogrange
explained, "and arrived, contrary to
my custom. / must confess. somewhat
early. Will you permit that I introduce
an acquaintance, whom | have been for
tunate enough to find on board-Mon-
sieur fe Baron de Grost-Madame Ia
Duehesse della Nermino."
Peter was eraciously received, and
the conversation dwelt for few mo-
ments with the usual banalities of the
voyage. Then followed the business of
settling the duchesse in her place. When
she was really installed and surround
ed with all the paraphernalia of a
great and fanciful lady, including a
handful of long cigarettes, she raised
for the first time her veil. Peter, who
was at the moment engaged in conver-
sation with her, was a little shocked
with the result. Her features were
worn, her face dead white, with many
signs of the ravages wrought by the
constant use of cosmetics. Only her
eyes had retained something of their
former splendor. She was a born con-
versationalist, a creature of her coun-
try entirely and absolutely feminine, to
whom the subtle and fattering defer.
ence of the other sex was as the breath
Of life itself. Peter burned his hon.
age upon her altar with craft which
amounted to genius. In less than half
an hour Madame la Duchesse was look
ing many years younger. The vague
look of apprehension has passed from
her face. Their voices had sunk to a
confidential undernote, punctuated often
by the music of her laughter. Sogrange.
with murmured word of apology, had
slipped away long ago. Decidedly, for
an Englishman, Peter was something
of marvel!
Madame la Duchesse moved her head
toward the empty chair.
HE is great friend of yours-the
Marquis de Sogrange?" she asked.
Indeed, MOI" he answered "A few
years ago l was frequently in Paris. l
made his acquaintance then, but we
have met very seldom since"
You are not travelling together
them"
BY no means" Peter assured her.
L recognized him only as he boarded
the steamer at Cherbourg."
He is not a popular man in our
world" she remarked. One speaks of
him as a schemer."
rs there anything left to scheme for
in France?" Peter asked, carelessly
"He is perhaps a monarchist?"
His ancestry alone would compel a
devoted allegiance to royalism," the
duchesse declared. But l do not think !
that he is interested in any of these
futile plot to reinstate the House of |
Orleans. l, Monsieur lie Baron. am
Spanish"
Il have scarcely lived so far out OF
the world as to have heard nothing of |
the Duchesse della Nermino." Peter
replied, with empressement. The last
time | saw you, duchesse, you were in
the suite OF the 1nfanta."
Peter felt that he was doing very
well indeed. He indulged himself in
a brief silence Presently she returned
to the subject of Sogrange.
Il think" she remarked, that of all
the men in the world | expected least
to see the Marquis de Sogrange on
board a steamer bound for New York.
What can man of his type find to
amuse him in the New World?"
'One wonders, indeed" Peter assent
ed. "As matter of fact, | did read
in a newspaper a few days ago that he
was going to Mexico in connection with
some excavations there"
The duchesse breathed what sounded
very much like sigh of relief
81 had forgotten" she admitted, "that
New York itself need not necessarily
be his destination"
For my own part" Peter continued,
my presence on an American steamer
is accounted for by the journalists
1 dozen times over Yours, duchesse,
# one might say so without appearing
overcurious, seems the most inexpli-
cable. What attraction can America
possibly have for you?"
She glanced at him covertly from un-
Ter her sleepy eyelids. Peters face was
ike the face of a child
You do not, perhaps, know" she
aid, that was born in Cuba. lived
here, in fact, for many years. l still
lave estates in the country"
'Indeed?" he answered. "Are you
then in this reported sal
age Of the Name"
There was a short silence Peter,
Who had not been looking at her when
lie had asked his question, turned his
lead, surprised at her lack of response.
His heart gave little jump. The
iuchesse had all the appearance of
woman on the point of fainting. |;
you are i'll. duchessep he ex-
laimed You will allow me to call :
he deck steward? Or perhaps you
would prefer your own maid? l have
ONE brandy in this flask"
He had thrown off his rug, but her .
mperious gesture kept him seated She
vas looking at him with an intentness
which was almost tragicaf.
What made you ask me that ques-
ions" she demanded. II
His innocence was entirely apparent
Not even Peter could have dissembled {
o naturally.
THAT question:" he repeated, vague
y. you mean about the Maine? 1t a
vas the idlest chance, duchesse, / as {
ure VOL If / had the slightest idea c