An Imperial Marriage

ndsome favourite, the Prince von Graven--the "Imperial Marriage," as the Court gossips styled it--

cial Correspondent, on succeeding to my uncle's fortune. I had remained on in the capital, ostensibly to give a lift to my successor, my old Varsi

she had guessed mine because she had dropped more than one hint that Alth

h a grin on his thin long malicious face that the Imperial Marriage was in da

as the son of a powerful Minister, Count von Felsen, he could sometimes be tapped for valua

s about it. Look, everybody is watching them"; and his close-set cunning eyes we

unette, with perfectly moulded features, large lustrous eyes instinct with tenderness and sympathy, and a figure of consummate grace. But then I looked at her with the eyes

te the picture, eh?" sneered von Felsen with a chuckle of malice. "How hi

er, judging by your looks," I r

e a chance, if it

partner. This was Chalice Mennerheim; really Althea's niece, although the relationship appeared a little absurd as there was

n to be trained by Herr Grumpel, the great professor, whose influen

intensely selfish, and would have been really pretty, had it not been for a certain hard, calculating e

round to the subject of the Prince, observing ca

a little coaxing gesture. "It's awfully wicked, and Althea is always at me about it; but I love scandal. And

The Prince thinks you very pretty too, I presume, by the way

. "What were you

in danger because he----" I left th

n. Because--

hing which would enable y

lthea?" Her voice

Half the people here were watching them just now

e laughter. "Isn't it fun?" she cried. I suppose it

aughter in it when the K

to turn matchmaker? Why should not the Prince marry whom he pleases? Think what an ugly thi

lied; "and probably he would be packed off to some fever hole in the Colonies on

emently. "Poor Althea! But you don't think

morbid delight in drawing this gloomy picture, when in reality I wished Althea all the happiness in th

little nod and a smile, as if we had had the pleasantest chat, and flitted off prattling to

uch a girl as Althea would ever give me a second thought. And then with a sigh I resolved to get out of

ce, Mr. Bastable," she said with a reproachful look and a sm

it, and mumble

ather tired. And you look as if the weight of a

ll talk, although every pulse in my body was leaping with

lking to her just now," she said, "and appea

t the truth from her. "It

she asked

I'm putting my foot in it, but I

she said jestingly, bu

, I heard something from von Felsen, and Chalice

nge of colour crept up into her cheeks. "Chalice

of the room a while back, a whole lot of people were staring at you; and--there was a lot

y parts of a fool in the pause which foll

quite understand it. I--I meant to tell you and Bessie all about it. I will

ibly know how I felt. "If you wish to avoid the Kaiser's anger, you certainly must b

nd she looked very grave for a moment. Then she go

added: "I wish I knew what the Kaiser woul

s with all my heart,

ould like---- But of course I can't. Good-bye";

g to England on the following day, and she guessed at on

e will do you good; and as Aunt Charlotte is coming here I must stay behind." Aunt Charlotte was Mrs. E

d me in my resolve to go away, and the

er my luggage and Bessie had gone off to buy me

you would be here. I am in despe

rvous excitement. "Of course I will. Tell me," I replied quickly. To help he

o be ar

exclaimed in prof

is on account of--of Prince von Graven." Her voice died down gradually as she sa

?" I blurted out, like

d taken prompt action. But that the Prince should have left her to bear t

said, biting her lip. "But I---- Oh, the

ogether. "Do you

e house when they came. The maid, Lotta, helped

ow you well

e of them outside. I got

ssie is here. Don't worry

with an exclamation of s

ng-rooms and change cloaks and hats with her. She can come back to me; but you must drive off somewhere in a cab. G

rned to see that my luggage was put back into the cloak-room instead of be

drab driving coat and a very plain, essentially English golf cap; and I could not restrain a smile at the

me up she whispered that the men she

that I knew one of them--a police agent, named D

f sight; slip on these sun spectacles, purse up your lip and show as many of your teeth as possible--you know the German cartoon of the

, and I was glad to see her smile

ter for a minute or two--he has never seen Bessie--and we are wrangling because you have left one of my trunks behind and ca

red, when I pointed to Dormund, who caught

to Althea. "I thought you could be trusted to count as far as four without a mistake. Giving all this in

heard much of what I said and

le, excuse m

in an ace of venting a bit of temper on you for the interruption. My sister has forgotten a trunk of mine, and now I shall

hen to me as if expecting an introduction. "I heard you were leaving Berlin

asure of my temper. "It's a marvel to me th

are you

train till the night mail, a

en long in t

she had made any mistake at all"; and I shot another wrathful glance a

You know Fr?ulein Korper, I believe? Have yo

not enough eyes to see all that even," I replied with a short angry l

ritably as I had spoken

ppy tone, "I am sorry," I said to Dorm

tunate

You're surely not see

his hands, leaving me t

to the porter. "Here, get these trunks to the cloak-room. I'll drive back fo

fe and succeeded in keeping her face

hile I chartered the cab; and I began to wonder if after all

ich Dormund himself held open, she hurried past him and took her

breath

w us?" asked A

thought of the tric

do it so naturally? I was posit

" I said reassuringly. "Try to fix you

what to do,"

tedness of it all had taken my breath away. The wh

om the galling rack of my disappointment on her account; and now she had rushed to me i

nt I was so elated by the proof of her conf