"
"The Princess seems to me more trouble than she is worth."
"It is possible that you have never seen her Highness," he said,
hinting a smile. "She is worth all the trouble in the world."
"If a man loved her," I suggested.
"And what man does not who has seen her and talked to her?" he replied,
pacing.
"The interest, then, you take in her discovery is not all due to that
imposed upon you by Count von Walden?" I could not resist this thrust.
"The subject is one that does not admit discussion," squaring his
shoulders.
"Suppose we talk of something that does not concern her? All this is a
blunder for which you are partly to blame. I have a bad lump on my
head and you have a black eye. But as you did what you believed to be
your duty, and as I did what every man does when self-preservation
becomes his first thought, let us cry quits. Come, what do you say to
a game of cards? Let us play ecarte, or I will teach you the noble
game of poker. To tell you the truth, I am becoming dreadfully bored."
"Believe me, I bear you no ill will," he said, "and I am inclined to
your side of the story.
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