“I don’t mean that he murdered her with a dagger or with poison. I should think it would be enough to kill any one to see that face and that sneer always opposite them. And they wanted her to enter the Orthodox Church, and she refused; and I don’t think he would be very kind if his wishes were opposed, would he? Oh, it was brave of her, poor Leopoldine! I should have surrendered, I know. I should be too frightened to hold out.” “I say, you know,” said Usk awkwardly, “perhaps you’re misjudging him. He mayn’t be as bad as he looks.” Helene shook her head. “It is the feeling his presence gives me,” she said. “Now, there is Michael. I dislike him, but I am not afraid of him. He is like a big boy who tortures flies for sport, not thinking. The Grand-Duke Ivan would do it for the sake of cruelty. And there is the Emperor Sigismund. Every one says how hard he is, but he is not cruel. He is always kind to me. He used to call me his little kitten, and I could always persuade him to do what I wanted. That was when I was a little girl, of course.” Usk was silent, lost in amazement at this new light upon the character of the Hercynian ruler. Helene was looking through a pile of music. “Ah!” she said. “This is what you in England call the Wedding March; is it not so? Shall I startle them all by playing it in Michael’s honour? It seems quite certain that he is to marry Sonya Eugenova. Cousin Ottilie was calling on mamma to-day, and told us so much about them both.” “No doubt the Princess of Dardania would know more about it than any one else,” said Usk drily, “but,” he added, unhappy recollections of his own coming to the surface again, “it would be a pity to congratulate the King too soon.” “Then shall I play it for you?” she asked suddenly. “Cousin Ottilie told us you were betrothed to a beautiful American girl. I hope I shall see her. Michael knows her family, does he not? Mamma said he was a good deal at their villa.” “No, please don’t,” said Usk hurriedly, laying his hand upon hers as she was about to begin. “As you have heard so much, I can explain things to you which I couldn’t to any one else. We are not exactly engaged--at least, you know, I would give anything to be, but she won’t have it. It’s--it’s just that she doesn’t like to be bound, you know. Of course she thinks I should try to monopolise her, and she would find it awfully dull.” Helene’s face, as she sat at the piano, wore an expression of disapproval. “I don’t understand,” she said. “She has not refused you--no? And yet she will not bind herself? But this is not treating you honourably.” “Oh, I don’t mind,” Usk assured her, with involuntary mendacity. “She’s--she’s an American, you know, and American girls like to be free above all things. I don’t want her to refuse me at all. I’m quite content to wait until she is willing----”