present she is a Madame de St. Croix, an Englishwoman nevertheless, and a widow, but not likely to remain so long.' And with a mischievous laugh she gave me her hand as I left the box, bowing to Madame de St. Croix and also to the Hungarian, who in his happy preoccupation was perfectly unconscious of my politeness.
"I saw them again in the crush-room. The Gräfinn had picked up an attaché to some legation, who put her dutifully into her carriage. The Hungarian was still completely engrossed with Madame de St. Croix. I have not yet forgotten the look on his handsome face when she drove off with her friend. 'He's a fool,' I said to myself; 'and yet a woman might well be proud to make a fool of such a man as that.'
"I left London in the middle of the season, and thought no more of Madame de
