pocket and I believe it’s a terribly complicated thing, anyway, to get married in Switzerland.”
“Let’s talk about it,” she insisted. “It’s a heavenly thing to talk about, anyway.”
The floor valet knocked at the door and interposed.
“Shall you be changing to-night, sir?” he enquired.
Charles hesitated.
“Remember,” she told him, “Mr. Blute was terribly anxious that you should do everything according to your usual custom. He can’t somehow get it out of his head that we’re being watched.”
“Dear old boy, he’s probably right,” Charles acknowledged. “All right, Franz, I’ll be round in two minutes. Will you order your dinner yourself, child?” he asked. “The waiter will be here directly.”
She shook her head firmly.
“For me to dine up here is forbidden, too. Mr. Blute has been very firm about it. I suppose it is quite easy if anyone is watching these apartments for them to find out whether any extra meals are served up here.”
“What about my ordering dinner for one, but plenty of it? We can eat off the same plate and fool them that way.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she laughed. “Mr. Blute showed me a very clean little restaurant out at the back part of the hotel where some of the courriers and hotel clerks go sometimes. I can use the service stairs to it and I’ll hurry back for coffee.”
Charles took her into his arms for a moment before she slipped off. Then he held her about a yard away and looked into her face.
“It’s the deep setting of your eyes, child, which has so completely disturbed my affections. Rather theatric, you know, but it’s frightfully attractive.”
“Don’t dare to look into any others,” she enjoined, releasing herself reluctantly. “Especially beware of the beautiful Baroness!”
CHAPTER XXI
The Baroness was there all right. She was seated on a divan in Frederick’s small private bar and by her side was the young German officer. She waved her hand to Charles and patted the place by her side.
“Come, Mr. Mildenhall,” she invited. “This is somewhat piquant. Come and amuse a tired woman. Come and have a glass of wine with us. To-morrow it will not be possible.”
Charles bowed to both of them and accepted the invitation.
“To-morrow,” she went on, “if that brave little island of yours makes up its mind to stand up and fight the mighty German Empire, if you two should meet one of you will be interned. Is that not so, Count?”
“I have no idea,” the young man replied formally, “as to what Herr Mildenhall’s exact diplomatic position is. If he claims no privileges he will certainly have to be dealt with as an enemy.”
“I have at present no diplomatic position,” Charles admitted, “which is the reason why I am running away. I am taking the last train to the frontier. If you will excuse me,” he added, waving on one side the bottle of champagne, “I will ask Frederick to mix me one of his White Lady cocktails.”
“You will not, I fear,” the young officer observed, “have a comfortable journey.”
“I am a seasoned traveller,” was the careless reply. “I am used to hardships.”
The Baroness shivered.
“Hardships,” she echoed. “I hate even the sound of the word. I like comfort.”
There was a single moment in their lives when Lieutenant Count von Hessen and Charles Mildenhall were en rapport. They both glanced involuntarily at the Baroness, who gave one the impression of a gorgeous butterfly stretched out on the divan in the gentle and voluptuous abandon of her soulless, insect life. The beauty of her limbs if anything was a little too much displayed under the light chiffon of her gown. Her neck and shoulders were exquisite. As a matter of fact she was looking her best that night. There was a twin gleam of humour in the eyes of the two men as they met for a moment.
“The Baroness glorifies that simple word,” Charles murmured.
“My friend speaks truthfully,” the German assented.
“A girl friend of mine once declared,” the Baroness said with a faintly humorous smile upon her lips, “that I was not nearly so beautiful as I believed but that I had the gift, when I desired to use it, of appearing beautiful. It has not brought me much reward in this world. If it gives anyone pleasure to look at me I am glad. But how do I benefit by it? Not at all. I am an unhappy woman.”
“Unhappiness could never remain in so lovely a setting,” the Count pronounced with stilted emphasis.
“Nevertheless, it is true,” she assured them. “I am unhappily married. My husband does not come near me. I have a dear friend who is always in political troubles and who flies from country to country. I have a few acquaintances who please me—like you two. But you amuse yourselves and you hurry away. That, Mr. Mildenhall—and you. Count, is not the way to treat a woman whom you profess to find attractive.”
“I am the slave of duty,” the Count volunteered.
“I am a wanderer who has lingered too long in Paradise,” Charles sighed. “Now I have to fly or the stern hand of the law will set me down in a draughty tent somewhere behind barbed wire!”
“I am obviously unlucky in my admirers!” she lamented.
Charles sipped his cocktail. Somehow it seemed to lack the flavour of its predecessor.
“I have not received even an invitation to dine,” the Baroness went on.
The Lieutenant Count von Hessen rose smartly to his feet. He stood to attention.
“Baroness,” he said, “you are aware of the necessity of my presence at the Barracks at half-past nine to-night. If you will share a humble meal with me now it will give me great pleasure and will render less sad my departure.”
The Baroness showed signs of being disposed to linger.
“Will you order the dinner, dear friend?” she suggested, smiling up at him. “When it is ready I will come. There is wine to finish and the days of economy must begin once more.”
“The dinner is already ordered,” he said firmly. “I ventured to anticipate a favourable reply to my invitation. It is the duty of a soldier always to be economical. Frederick, will you send the bottle of wine to my table?”
“Certainly, Herr Lieutenant,” the man replied. “It shall be done.”
The Baroness, a little wearily, held out her hand to Charles, who had also risen, and rose gracefully but languidly to her feet.
“It is to be farewell, then, Mr. Charles
