“In 1883 I was sent to Berlin as Military Attache, but was subsequently recalled because I had violated the rules of international etiquette by fighting three duels with German officers.  The Ambassador at this time was Charles de Courcel.  You will understand that there was no disgrace connected with my recall, but the necessity of defending my honor was incompatible with the rules of the service, and after fifteen months in Berlin I was remanded to Versailles with the rank of First Lieutenant, under Colonel Quinivet.  Here I pursued my studies and was then ordered to the Soudan, whence, after being wounded, I was sent to Senegal.  Here I acted as Governor of the City of St. Louis.  As you are doubtless aware, the climate of Senegal is exceedingly unhealthy.  I fell ill with a fever and was obliged to return to France where I was assigned to the office of the General Staff Major in Paris.  At the opening of the war with Dahomey in 1892, I was sent in command of the Engineers of the Corps Expeditional, and on the 17th of November of that year was severely wounded at Dakar in Dahomey, having received a spear cut through the lungs.  On this occasion I had the distinction of being promoted as Major of Engineers and was created an Officer of the Legion of Honor on the battle field.  The wound in my lungs was of such a serious character that Colonel Dodds sent me back once more to France on furlough, and President Carnot was kind enough to give me his personal commendation for my services.

“I was now thirty-three years old and had already attained high rank in my profession.  I had had opportunity to pursue studies in chemistry, medicine and science, and my only interest was in the service of my country and in qualifying myself for my future duties.  My life up to that time had been uniformly happy; I was the eldest son and beloved both of my father and mother.  My social position gave me the entree to the best of society wherever I happened to be.  As yet, however, I had never been in love.  At this time occurred the affair which in a measure changed my career.  The wound in my lungs was slow in healing, and at the earnest invitation of my sister, Lady Londonderry, I went to London.  At that time she was living in Belgravia Square.  It was here I met my first wife.”

De Nevers paused.  The cigarette had gone out.  For the first time he seemed to lose perfect control of himself.  I busied myself with some papers until he should have regained his self possession.

“You will understand,” he said in a few moments, “these things are not governed by law and statute.  The woman with whom I fell in love and who was in every respect the equal in intellectual attainments, beauty and charm of manner of my own people, was the nursery governess in my sister’s household.  She returned my affection and agreed to marry me.  The proposed marriage excited the utmost antipathy on the part of my family; my fiancee was dismissed from my sister’s household, and