About ten o'clock she summoned one of her waiting women. "Is Mademoiselle Marthe there?" she asked. Receiving an affirmative reply the said: "Show her in." Mlle. Marthe came every year about this time to show the Grand Duchess the last word in novelties from Paris. A delicate suggestion of the Boulevard de la Madeleine seemed to enter with this good-looking, dainty girl. "Have you had a pleasant journey, child?" asked Aurora. "I arrived last evening, madame," replied the girl. "Please excuse me for intruding on your Highness so soon, but I have to go back this evening." "What have you got for me this year?" Mlle. Marthe opened her boxes and revealed dainty jewellery, tulle fans, vanity bags in velvet and moiré, diminutive stamp boxes, powder boxes, patch-boxes--those Parisian fallals which make all others look cheap. "Leave me these," said Aurora. "Tell Duvelleroy it will be all right. In November I shall want a Watteau fan, or at any rate a Lancret. It must be ready when I arrive in Paris." "Your Highness shall have it," replied the girl confidently. "Good. You had better take the five o'clock express this evening. You will stay to lunch with me and tell me what the Rue de la Paix will be doing this winter." During the meal I admired the unaffected ease with which the little Parisian girl replied to the Grand Duchess's questions. It made me proud of my pretty fellow-countrywoman to see Aurora, who had so little love for the women of Lautenburg, treat her as an equal. But how much greater was my admiration for the self-possession of this princess, who, after three days and nights such as would have broken a strong man, was able to carry on light conversation about the thousand and one little trifles of Paris fashions. "You still recommend Cartier?" "Yes, madame, they are still the best for hats." "Laurence has left the Rue des Pyramids; she has a big establishment in the Rue Auber. I shall probably give her a call." "I should suggest Your Highness going there. Laurence specializes in the export business. Most of her trade is with foreign houses." It was a pleasure to hear all this small talk, a refreshing, idle interlude in tragic events; it almost helped me to forget. About three o'clock the Grand Duchess handed Marthe an envelope. "This is for your journey, my dear. I don't want you to miss your train. A car will take you back to your hotel, then on to the station. I am quite satisfied. Don't forget my fan. Good-bye. I shall be calling on you in November." When the little ray of sunshine had vanished the Grand Duchess remained a moment in thought, fingering the trifles that lay scattered about the room. Then she said: "Monsieur Vignerte, I have an important piece of news for you." My reply was a look of hungry questioning. "I have the honour to inform you," she continued, "that I have just received a letter--a letter from Baron von Boose." I showed my astonishment.