"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."

The wife was silent, but the bitter expression did not leave her lips.

Wallmoden arose and offered his arm.

"You must permit me, my child, to come to your a.s.sistance sometimes in your inexperience," he said in his usual polite tone. "So far I have had every reason to be satisfied with your tact and manner. To-day is the first time I have had to give you a hint. May I ask if you are ready to return?"

"I should like to remain here a few moments longer," said Adelaide in a smothered voice. "It is so insufferably hot in the salons."

"Just as you desire, but I beg that you will not remain too long, as your absence would cause remark."

He saw and felt that she was offended, but found it expedient not to notice it. Baron Wallmoden, in spite of all his politeness and attention, understood that in the training of his wife such kinds of sentiment must not be encouraged. He left the room, and Adelaide remained alone. She leaned her head upon her hand, and with unseeing eyes stared at the group of plants near her, whispering almost inaudibly: "Free choice--O, my G.o.d!"

In the meantime Prince Adelsberg and his friend were being most graciously dismissed. They bowed low before the Princess, who arose and left the salon with an unusually mild expression on her sharp features.

"Hartmut, I believe you can magnetize," said Egon under his breath. "I have seen many examples of your irresistibility, but that my most gracious aunt has a regular attack of affability in your presence is something never heard of before. It puts all your other victories into the shade."

"Well, the reception was cool enough," laughed Hartmut. "Her Highness really seemed to take me for a brigand at first."

"But in ten minutes you stood in the full sunshine of her grace, and have been dismissed a prime favorite. Do tell me what you have in you that everybody, without exception, bows to your charm. One might well believe in the old fairy tale of the rat-catcher."

Again the harsh, repulsive sarcasm which took for a moment every beauty from his face, pa.s.sed over Hartmut's lips, giving him a satanic expression.

"I understand how to play the thing they like best to hear. It has a different sound to every one, but if one knows how to strike the right chord, none can resist it."

"None?" repeated Egon, while his glance pa.s.sed searchingly through the room.

"Not one, I tell you."

"Yes, you are a pessimist in this respect. I at least recognize some exceptions. If I only knew where Frau von Wallmoden was. I cannot see her anywhere."

"His Excellency is probably reading her a lecture upon the undiplomatic remark of a short time since."

"Did you also hear it?" asked Egon quickly.

"Yes; I stood in the door."

"Well, I do not in the least begrudge our most gracious one the lesson.

Naturally she was beside herself about it, but do you really believe that the Amba.s.sador---- Hush! there he is himself."

It was, indeed, the Amba.s.sador before them, just returning from the tower room. An encounter now could not be avoided, and the young Prince, who had no idea of the existing connection, hastened to introduce his friend.

"Allow me, Your Excellency, to make good a neglect which was forced upon me that day upon the Hochberg by the disappearance of my friend. I only found him after your departure. Herr Hartmut Rojanow, Baron von Wallmoden."

The eyes of the two men met. The sharp, penetrating eyes of the one met the expression of challenging defiance in the other, but Wallmoden would not have been the finished diplomat he was if he were not equal to the present moment.