Mary Alice chose the simplest thing that rigorous French maid would allow and kept as close as possible to her own individual and unpretending style. But even then, she was a pretty resplendent young person as she stole timidly down to find the Duchess and be presented to the King.
The guests were assembled in the great drawing-room, and Mary Alice was frightened almost to death when she saw the splendour of the scene and realized what part she had to play in it.
Then, in a daze, she was swept forward and presented, and found herself looking into eyes that smiled as with an old friendliness. So she smiled back again, and soon forgot the onlookers, answering His Majesty's kindly questions.
[Illustration: "…found herself looking into eyes that smiled as with an old friendliness.">[
He turned from her, presently, to speak to some one else, and Mary Alice caught sight then of a face she knew. For an instant, she stood staring. For an instant, he stood staring back, as unbelieving as she.
Then, "You seem to be on friendly terms with His Majesty," he said. "Have you showed him how to play the game, too?"
"No," Mary Alice answered, "but I've told him the Secret."
As soon as they could, they escaped—those two—out on to the terrace where the stars were shining thickly overhead.