“This is truly remarkable,” said I.  “The only thing I did was to lead a regiment out of danger.”

“The danger was annihilation.  If a Captain or a Colonel had done it, we should have thought nothing of it; but an utter stranger, who had nothing in common with either cause—­ah, believe me, it was a very gallant thing to do.”

“This is positively the first time I was ever glad that I did the thing.”  I placed my hand over my heart.  “But, after all, that is not half so brave as what I am doing now.”

“I do not understand,” said she puzzled.

“Why, it is simple.  Here I am talking to you, occupying your time and keeping those fierce Generals at bay.  See how they are gnawing their mustaches and biting their lips and asking one another who I am.  There are as many as five challenges waiting for me the moment I depart from your side.”

There was mischief in her eye.

“Then you shall stay with me, find me an ice and waltz once with me, for if anything happened to you I should always have myself to blame.”

I waltzed with her, and the perfume of her hair got into my head, and I grew dizzy.  When the dance came to an end, I went into the smoking room.  Suddenly it went through my brain that the world had changed in an incredibly short time.  I tried to smoke, and for the first time in my life, tobacco was tasteless, I was falling in love with a Princess.  I confess that it did not horrify me; on the contrary, I grew thrilled and excited.  There was a spice here which hitherto had been denied me.  The cost was unspelled.  I fell as far as I could fall.  The uncertainty of the affair was in itself an enchantment.

Well, the next day I strolled up the Avenue of Legations and saw her on horseback.  She was accompanied by an elderly man with a face like an eagle’s.  There were various decorations on his breast.  As the Princess saw me, she bent her head.  She remembered me.  That was all that was necessary for my transportation.  Later, I was informed that her escort was Prince Ernst of Wortumborg, who was destined to become her lord and master.  I did not care who he was; I knew that I hated him.

For a week I lingered on.  I met her time and again; alone on horseback, at the various embassies and at the opera.  At these meetings I learned a great deal about her.  She was known to be the most capricious woman at court, and that she was as courageous as she was daring; and that the Prince might consider himself lucky if he got her, King’s will or no King’s will.  She had little liking for her intended.  She treated him contemptuously and held his desires in utter disregard.  One fine morning I was told that the Prince was beginning to notice my attentions, that he was one of the most noted pistol shots and swordsmen on the Continent, and that if I had any particular regard for my epidermis I would cease my attendance on the Princess at once.  This, of course, made me more attentive than ever; for I can hold my own with any man when it comes to pistols, and I can handle the rapier with some success.