“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.”

I began to disclaim.

“Nonsense!” she cut in.  “Don’t you think a woman knows another woman—­and also a man?”

“By your leave, cousin, I’ll not think,” I said.

“It’s a bit unnecessary sometimes,” she laughed.

I made no reply.  In truth, I knew none.  But the Princess did not seem to notice it.  She was plucking at the roses again.

“I wish I might flirt,” she broke out suddenly.

I grasped the marble rail for support.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she laughed, “I’ll not try it—­I know what is permitted me.”

“Then you never flirted?” I asked with assumed seriousness.

“No; that’s another penalty of birth.  With whom may the Princess Royal flirt?”

I waved my hand toward the ball room.

“I hope I am neither cruel nor indiscreet,” she said, rather curtly.

“But there are many royal guests come to Dornlitz,” I ventured.

She shrugged her shoulders.  “They all bore me.”

“Which only makes them the better material to practice on.”

“Surely, I am very innocent,” she said.  “I thought at least a bit of sentiment was required.”