“The Prince must be kind to a fellow countrywoman,” she declared indulgently.  “You are talking terrible scandal.”

La Belle Nita danced wonderfully, sang like a linnet, danced again and disappeared, notwithstanding the almost wild calls for an encore.  With the end of her turn came a selection from the orchestra and a general emptying of the boxes.  Presently Chalmers went in search of Nigel.  A few moments later there was a knock at the door.  Maggie gripped the sides of her chair tightly.  She was moved almost to fury by the turmoil in which she found herself.  Her invitation to enter was almost inaudible.

“I am deserted,” Prince Shan explained, as he made his bow and took the chair to which Maggie pointed.  “My friend Immelan has left me to visit acquaintances, and I chance to be unattended this evening.  I trust that I do not intrude.”

“You are very welcome here,” Maggie replied.  “Will you listen to the orchestra, or talk to me?”

“I will talk, if I may,” he answered.  “Lord Dorminster is not with you?”

“Nigel went to look up a friend whom he wants to bring to supper.  He is one of those people who seem to discover friends and acquaintances in every quarter of the globe.”

“And to that fortunate chance,” her visitor continued, dropping his voice a little, “I owe the happiness of finding you alone.”

Maggie glanced towards her aunt, who was leaning back in her seat.

“Aunt seems to be asleep, but she isn’t,” she declared.  “She is really a very efficient chaperon.  Talk to me about China, please, and tell me about your Dragon airship.  Is it true that you have silver baths, and that Gauteron painted the walls of your dining salon?”

“One is in the air five days on the way over,” he answered indifferently.  “It is necessary that one’s surroundings should be agreeable.  Perhaps some day I may have the honour of showing it to you.  In the darkness, and when she is docked, there is little to be seen.”

She looked at him curiously.

“You knew that I was there, then?”

“Yours was the first face I saw when I descended from the car,” he told her.  “You stood apart, watching, and I wondered why.  I knew, too, that you would be at the Ritz to-night.  That is why I came there.  As a rule, I do not dine in public.”

“How could you possibly know that I was going to be there?” Maggie asked curiously.

“I sent a gentleman of my suite to look through the names of those who had booked tables,” he answered.  “It was very simple.”

“It was only a chance that the table was reserved in my name,” she reminded him.

“It was chance which brought us together,” he rejoined.  “It is chance under another name to which I trust in life.”