"The princess," continued Dumergue, "was terribly agitated and annoyed at the scandal and the duel which followed. And of course the countess left the court, and returned to England." "To England?" "Yes; she was a Miss Mason. The king ennobled her at the princess' request." I smiled and said: "And now there is a question about who her escort was?" "There is," said Dumergue. "It is believed that the baron entertains an extraordinary idea that the gentleman in question was no other than----" "Myself," said the prince, throwing away his cigarette. I remembered the baron's strange questions before the duel. "Dispose of me as you please, sir," said I. "Then you were at the ball, and knocked the baron down!" exclaimed Dumergue. "A thousand thanks," said the prince. "But what are we to do with him now, sir?" asked Dumergue. "The princess will be expecting him." "I will go and tell the princess of Mr. Jason's confession. You go with Mr. Jason, and tell the baron that the princess cannot receive him. I want him to see Mr. Jason." "But, sir," said I, "I didn't fight under my own name." The prince was already gone, and Dumergue was halfway down the stairs. I followed the latter. We found the baron in the smoking room, taking a cup of coffee. A couple of men sat talking on a settee near him; otherwise the room was empty. Dumergue went up to the baron, I following a step or two behind him. The baron rose and bowed coldly. "I am charged," said Dumergue, "to express His Royal Highness' regrets that Her Royal Highness cannot have the pleasure of receiving you. She has retired to her apartments." "The servant told me she was at supper." "He was misinformed." "I'm not to be put off like that. I'll have a refusal from the princess herself." "I will inform His Royal Highness." The baron was about to answer, when he caught sight of me. "Ah, there's the jackal!" he said, with a sneer. I stepped forward. "Do you refer to me?" I asked. "Unless I am wrong in recognizing my former antagonist, Colonel Despard." This was just what I had anticipated. Dumergue did not seem surprised either. "Of course it is Colonel Despard," he said. "You would not be likely to forget him, baron." We had been speaking in a low tone, but at Dumergue's sneer, the baron lost his temper. Raising his voice, he said, almost in a shout: "Then I tell Colonel Despard that he is a mean hound." If I assumed the colonel's name, I felt I must at least defend it from imputations. I began: "Once before, baron, I chastised----" I was interrupted. One of the men on the settee interposed, rising as he spoke. "I beg pardon, gentlemen, but is it Colonel Despard of the Hussars to whom you refer?" "Yes," said the baron. "Then that gentleman is not Colonel Despard," announced our new friend. "I am Colonel Despard's brother-in-law." For a moment I was at a loss; things were falling out so very unfortunately. Dumergue turned on the stranger fiercely: