Then, we went in to dinner—­and, here, was a surprise for me, also.

It was the same room we had breakfasted in the previous day, but now, upon the wall, fronting us as we entered, hung a full-length portrait of an officer in the uniform of the Red Huzzars.  It was the Great Henry; but it could just as well have been myself.  Surely, outwardly, at least, he was my alter ego.

Even Courtney’s astonishment pierced his heavy equanimity; and Lady Helen stopped sharply and gazed at the painting and, then, at me, and, then, at the painting, again, in silent wonder.  For although they both knew, generally, of the resemblance, it needed the uniform to bring it out in full effect.

“Your Majesty has given us a series of surprises to-night,” said Courtney.

“It is surely wonderful—­almost beyond belief,” said Lady Helen.

“Now, you know something of my sensations when I first met him,” said Frederick, “though, then, I had not the benefit of the Huzzar attire.”

“And you, Princess?” asked Lady Helen.

The King laughed aloud; Courtney became absorbed in the picture; I tugged at my sword-knot—­we all were thinking of the kiss before the Ball.  But Dehra, naturally, thought of the meeting in the forest six years before.

“It was a long time ago, but I think I did notice the resemblance in a casual way,” she said.

The King stared at her in surprise; Courtney smiled slightly and glanced at me, and Lady Helen’s eyes shot from Dehra to me and back again in a vain attempt to understand.  Frederick, however, was on the point of asking an explanation when the Princess gave him a glance, and he instantly dropped the matter and motioned us to our seats.

Mine was on Dehra’s right; Courtney’s on her left.  Presently, I heard the King say to Lady Helen: 

“Come, confess you are curious how the American military attache becomes a Valerian Archduke?”

And, through Dehra’s talk, I detected the laughing answer, pitched high enough to reach me: 

“‘Curious’ is quite too mild a word, Sire.”

Then, as the King began the story, she glanced over at me and I nodded my thanks.  It would have been a bit awkward, just then, if she had shown she already knew my history.  To-morrow it mattered not to me if it were known the Kingdom over; aye, and farther, too.  But to-morrow was the future; to-night was mine.  I was in favor; a King across the table; a beautiful woman beside me.  What more could any man wish?

And, when Dehra whispered:  “Do you know, Armand, you are very handsome to-night?” I tossed all discretion overboard and made violent love to her before them all.  Nor heeded Courtney’s warning looks, nor Lady Helen’s curious glances.  It was Dehra, herself, who brought me up sharply, after a space.

“I am afraid, Armand,” said she, “if you flirt so strenuously with me to-night, you will have no cards left for the balance of our game.”