Part 26 (1/2)

”I shall leave it alone,” interrupted the incensed lady, using her fan violently. ”It must be a peculiar household which you carry on at Rodeck with the young foreigner whom you have, perhaps, also brought as a curiosity from your travels. He has the face of a perfect brigand.”

”My friend Rojanow! He has been pining a long time to be presented to Your Highness. You permit it, I hope?”

Without waiting for an answer he hastened away and took possession of Hartmut.

”Now it is your turn,” he whispered, dragging him along unceremoniously. ”I have been the victim long enough, and my most precious aunt has to have some one whom she can roast slowly. She insists upon marrying me off-hand, and you have the face of a perfect brigand, but, thank G.o.d! she does not come to Rodeck. I have taken care of that!”

In the next moment he stood before Her Highness, introducing his friend with his blandest smile.

CHAPTER XXII.

Herr von Wallmoden had lingered in the circle a few moments after the departure of the Princess; then, with his wife on his arm, he walked slowly through the suite of rooms, greeting an acquaintance here, conversing briefly there, until they finally reached the last of the reception rooms, which was rather deserted.

The tower room, opening directly from this, was not generally used in entertainments, but for tonight it had been transformed into a small, cosy apartment with curtains and carpets and a picturesque group of plants, and, with its dim lights, offered a pleasing contrast to the blinding flood of light and the commotion of the other rooms.

It was quite vacant now, which the Amba.s.sador seemed to have counted upon when he entered with his wife and offered her a seat upon a divan.

”I must draw your attention to the fact, Adelaide, that you did an unwise thing just now,” he began in a low tone. ”Your remark to the Princess----”

”Was self-defense,” finished the young wife. ”You must have felt, as well as I did, what the object of the conversation was.”

”Nevertheless, at your first appearance you have made for yourself an antagonist whose enmity can materially render your own and my position more difficult.”

”Yours?” Adelaide looked at him in surprise. ”Are you, the Amba.s.sador of a great power, to ask the grace of a malicious woman who happens to be related to a ducal family?”

”My child, you do not understand,” returned Wallmoden coldly. ”An intriguing woman can be more dangerous than a political opponent, and Princess Sophie is well known in that line. Even the d.u.c.h.ess is known to be in fear of her malicious tongue.”

”That is the d.u.c.h.ess' affair. I am not in fear of it.”

”My dear Adelaide,” said the Amba.s.sador, with a superior smile, ”that proud turn of your head is very becoming to you, and I approve entirely of your making yourself unapproachable with it in other circles, but you will have to leave it off at Court, as well as several other things. One does not give royalty a lesson before so many observers, and you did that when you spoke of the refusal of the t.i.tle. In any case, it was not necessary for you to lay so much stress upon the descent of your father.”

”Should I perhaps have denied it?”

”No, for it is a well-known fact.”

”Of which I am as proud as was my father.”

”But you are not Adelaide Stahlberg any longer, but the Baroness Wallmoden.” The voice of the Amba.s.sador had acquired a certain sharpness. ”And you will admit that it is very contradictory to boast of your burgher pride when you have given your hand to a man of the old n.o.bility.”

A slight bitterness quivered around the lips of the young wife, and although the conversation had been carried on in low tones, her voice sank even lower as she returned: ”Perhaps you have forgotten, Herbert, why I gave you my hand.”

”Have you had cause to regret it?” he asked instead of replying.

”No,” said Adelaide, drawing a deep breath.

”I should think you could be satisfied with the position you have at my side. Besides, you remember that I did not compel you. I left you perfectly free choice.”