"I kiss the hand that smites me," he murmured in her ear, sarcastically; then turned aside to greet Lord Dudley. Fervent congratulations were exchanged between these two, who had been ocean voyagers together, and who had parted on the deck of the broken vessel, expecting to meet again only upon the other shore of eternity. "I am dying of impatience to hear how you were rescued from the horrors of that terrible shipwreck," said Lord Dudley. "Is the story too long to tell us to-night?" "It is a long story, but it may be told in a few words," said Howard. "I was tossed about for some time, clinging desperately to a slender spar, then picked up by a blockade runner bound for Cuba. "This, in turn, was captured by a Spanish war vessel. I remained a prisoner of Spain until such time as the vessel put into port, and I reported to our American consul in that country. "He immediately wrote to America for the necessary papers to prove my identity as a citizen of America. These being obtained and examined, I was released, after a tedious delay, and came home as fast as wind and tide could carry me. There, my lord, you have the whole story in a nutshell." "And a very interesting one, too, I doubt not, had it been related in detail. I heartily rejoice that you were saved to tell it," said Lord Dudley, with interest. Then he added, as if some afterthought had suddenly struck him: "And, Templeton, the lady--who came over in your care--was she also saved?" Templeton started, and flashed a hurried glance at Xenie. She was toying with her jeweled fan, and looking away as carelessly as if she had forgotten his existence. He did not know that she was listening intently to every word. He looked back carelessly at the nobleman. "Yes, she was rescued with me. We clung to the spar together. I would have lost my own life rather than that frail and helpless girl should have perished!" "She returned with you, then?" said Lord Dudley. "Yes, she returned in my care. She was a helpless young widow," said Howard, evasively. "She lost all her friends in Europe." Then other friends claimed him, and he turned away. "So Mr. Templeton is an old acquaintance of yours, Mrs. St. John?" "Yes; he was my late husband's nephew," she answered, with languid indifference. He saw that she did not care to pursue the subject. "It puzzled me when I first saw you to-night that I could not account for the strange familiarity of your face," he said; "but since I have so unexpectedly met with my fellow-voyager, Howard Templeton, I distinctly recall the reason. You are singularly like a lady who traveled in his care--your very height, your very features; though, as I remember now, very different in expression. She appeared almost heart-broken; yet she was very beautiful. I need not tell you that, though, since I have already said she looks like you," he added, with an admiring bow. "What was her name?" asked Mrs. St. John, eagerly, quite oblivious of the delicate compliment.