It thus happened that there was no one in Netty’s immediate vicinity except the old man, huddled up in his ragged coat.  Martin paused to satisfy himself that he was not followed, and then came towards her, but Netty could see that he did not intend to stop and speak.  He did not even bow as he approached, but passing close by her he dropped a folded note at her feet, and walked on without looking round.

There were others passing now in either direction, but Netty seemed to know exactly how to act.  She sat with her foot on the note until they had gone.  Then she stooped and picked up the paper.  The precautions were unnecessary, it seemed, for no one was even looking in her direction.

“I must not speak to you,” Martin wrote, “for there is danger in it—­not to me, but to yourself.  That of which you will not let me tell you is for to-night.  Whatever you hear or see, do not leave your rooms at the Europe.  I have already provided for your safety.  There is great news, but no one knows it yet.  Whatever happens, I shall always be thinking of you, and—­no!  I must not say that.  But to-morrow I may be able to say it—­who knows!  I shall walk to the end of the garden and back again; but I must not even bow to you.  If you go away before I pass again, leave something on the seat that I may keep until I see you again—­your glove or a flower, to be my talisman.”

Netty smiled as she read the letter, and glanced at Martin down the length of the broad walk, with the tolerant softness still in her eyes.  She rather liked his old-fashioned chivalry, which is certainly no longer current to-day, and would, perhaps, be out of place between two young persons united fondly by a common sport or a common taste in covert-coating.

Martin was at the far end of the gardens now, and in a minute would turn and come towards her again.  She had not long in which to think and to make up her mind.  She had, as Martin wrote, prevented him from telling her of those political matters in which he was engaged.  But she knew that events were about to take place which might restore the fortunes of the Bukatys.  Should these fortunes be restored she knew that the prince would be the first man in Poland.  He might even be a king.  For the crown had gone by ballot in the days when Poland was a monarchy.

Netty had some violets pinned in the front of her jacket.  She thoughtfully removed them, and sat looking straight in front of her—­absorbed in maiden calculations.  If Prince Bukaty should be first in Poland, Prince Martin must assuredly be second.  She laid the violets on the stone seat.  Martin had turned now though he was still far away.  She looked towards him, still thinking rapidly.  He was a man of honor.  She knew that.  She had fully gauged the honor of more than one man; had found it astonishingly reliable.  The honor of women was quite a different question.  That which Prince Martin said in the day of adversity he would assuredly adhere to in other circumstances.  “Besides—­” And she smiled a thoughtful smile of conscious power as she bent her head to rebutton her jacket and arrange her furs.