“I must call your attention to the fact, Adelheid,” he began in a low, condemnatory tone, “that you were guilty of great imprudence, just now.  Your speech to the princess—­”

“Was in self-defence,” the young wife broke in.  “You understood, as well as I, the object of the whole conversation.”

“That’s as it may be.  You have, on your first entrance into society, made an enemy who will make both you and me feel her animosity very keenly as time goes on.”

“You!” Adelheid looked at him in surprise.  “Will you, the ambassador of a great nation, have anything to fear from a malicious woman, who happens to be related to the ducal house?”

“My child, you do not comprehend,” responded her husband, coolly.  “An evil-tongued woman can be more dangerous than any political opponent, and Princess Sophie is famed in this respect; even the duchess herself fears her slanderous tongue.”

“In that the duchess and I differ—­I do not fear her.”

“My dear Adelheid,” said the ambassador with a superior smile, “that proud movement of the head does you great credit.  But at Court, you must learn to do as others do.  One cannot give royalty a lesson before too many witnesses, and that is what you did when you spoke of your father’s declination of a title of nobility.  It was not necessary for you to be so explicit concerning your father’s origin.”

“Should I have falsified?”

“No, but it was a well known fact—­”

“Of which I am proud, as was my father before me.”

“You are no longer Adelheid Stahlberg, but the Baroness Wallmoden”—­the baron’s voice had assumed a sudden sharpness.  “And you, yourself, will be forced to admit that when a woman has married into a family of the old nobility, it is hardly fitting for her to sneer at the nobles.”

The young wife’s lips were drawn in with a bitter expression.  Although she had been speaking in a subdued tone, she dropped her voice still lower, as she said now:  “Have you forgotten, Herbert, why I gave you my hand?”

“Perhaps you have had cause to regret it?” he said, questioning instead of answering.

“No,” said Adelheid with a deep breath.

“I thought you were perfectly contented with the position to which you had attained by marrying me.  As for the rest you know I exercised no control over you.  I left it to your own free will.”

His wife was silent, but the bitter expression was yet on her lips.  Wallmoden rose and offered her his arm.

“You must permit me, my child, to help you at times, for you are inexperienced,” he said in his wonted polite tone.  “I have had every reason to be contented with your tact and discretion, but to-day I thought it necessary to give you a hint.  Will you take my arm?”

“I will remain here a few minutes if you please,” said Adelheid.  “It is so stifling in the saloon.”

“As you please.  But I must beg you to come back soon, otherwise your absence will be noticed.”