"Frankly, I don't know. I hope not, but I don't yet know."
"Well, I was surprised when he mentioned it, because we'd heard that you'd taken a big house, and were going to make a bit of a splash, you know. And, by Jove, it would be a blessing, for most of the houses here are just deadly dull."
"'We heard,' you say?"
"How quick you are!" he answered with a smile, and he had a slightly heightened colour as he went on. "Yes, we—we two; not old Kolfort, you know. But—well, we've had a chat about you more than once; and last night, after you'd been at the General's house, we had a regular consultation about you—and, to tell you the truth, that's another reason why I've come."
"I don't think I understand."
"No, of course you don't. I don't altogether. I think; but" He hesitated, and pulled at his cigar for some moments in a little embarrassment. "You see, it's a bit difficult to make you understand without telling what a man doesn't care to talk about. I suppose something happened at the General's that affected you closely, and made you—hang it all! Wait a minute, and let me try and think how I was to put it."
I smiled again at this, and watched him as he fidgeted with his cigar somewhat nervously and uneasily.
"You saw the Princess there, didn't you? I don't know, but I heard something or other; and, anyway, she must have been speaking to—to someone who spoke to me. Doesn't that sound rather ridiculous?"
But I scarcely heard his question. The reference to the Princess Christina had set my thoughts whirling at the bare idea that he was in some remote way a messenger from her, and that she was sufficiently in-
