"'And beautiful?' I asked him.
"For reply, he brought out a photograph from his desk. I tell you, Lester, it fairly took my breath away. I felt as though I were looking at a masterpiece—say Andrea del Sarto's Madonna. And I would as soon have thought of marrying the one as the other. It was like snatching a star down out of heaven.
"Curtiss was leaning back in his chair watching me, and he smiled as I looked up.
"'Well?' he asked.
"I went over and shook hands with him—I couldn't find words to tell him what I felt.
"'But where has she been?' I demanded. 'How does it happen she was left for you?'
"'She's been abroad for five or six years,' he explained.
"'That's no answer,' I said. 'Why isn't she a queen, then; or a duchess, at least?'
"'She's had chances enough, I dare say,' and he smiled at my enthusiasm. 'I agree with you that she's worthy to wear a crown; but then, you see, she has ideals, too. Perhaps none of the kings she met measured up to them.'
"'And you did?'