“I should not,” Selingman continued, rising, “venture to trouble you, Baroness, as I know the sphere of your activities is far removed from mine, but chance has put you in the position of being able to ascertain definitely the things which I desire to know.  For our common sake you will, I am sure, seek to discover the truth.”

“So far as I can, certainly,” Anna replied, “but I must admit that I, like you, find Mr. Norgate a little incomprehensible.”

“There are men,” Selingman declared, “there have been many of the strongest men in history, impenetrable to the world, who have yielded their secrets readily to a woman’s influence.  The diplomatists in life who have failed have been those who have underrated the powers possessed by your wonderful sex.”

“Among whom,” Anna remarked, “no one will ever number Herr Selingman.”

“Dear Baroness,” Selingman concluded, as the maid whom Anna had summoned stood ready to show him out, “it is because in my life I have been brought into contact with so many charming examples of your power.”

* * * * *

Once more silence and solitude.  Anna moved restlessly about on her couch.  Her eyes were a little hot.  That future into which she looked seemed to become more than ever a tangled web.  At half-past seven her maid reappeared.

“Madame will dress for dinner?”

Anna swung herself to her feet.  She glanced at the clock.

“I suppose so,” she assented.

“I have three gowns laid out,” the maid continued respectfully.  “Madame would look wonderful in the light green.”

“Anything,” Anna yawned.

The telephone bell tinkled.  Anna took down the receiver herself.

“Yes?” she asked.

Her manner suddenly changed.  It was a familiar voice speaking.  Her maid, who stood in the background, watched and wondered.

“It is you, Baroness!  I rang up to see whether there was any chance of your being able to dine with me?  I have just got back to town.”

“How dared you go away without telling me!” she exclaimed.  “And how can I dine with you?  Do you not realise that it is Ascot Thursday, and I have had many invitations to dine to-night?  I am going to a very big dinner-party at Thurm House.”

“Bad luck!” Norgate replied disconsolately.  “And to-morrow?”

“I have not finished about to-night yet,” Anna continued.  “I suppose you do not, by any chance, want me to dine with you very much?”

“Of course I do,” was the prompt answer.  “You see plenty of the Princess of Thurm and nothing of me, and there is always the chance that you may have to go abroad.  I think that it is your duty—­”

“As a matter of duty,” Anna interrupted, “I ought to dine at Thurm House.  As a matter of pleasure, I shall dine with you.  You will very likely not enjoy yourself.  I am going to be very cross indeed.  You have neglected me shamefully.  It is only these wonderful roses which have saved you.”