“Very naturally.”
“We were to sail by the Kron Prinz on the first of June.”
“Why, I sailed on the Kron Prinz, on the first of June!” Hereward interrupted.
“Exactly. And that was the very reason why we did not. And now comes the crisis of my story—the reason why I was compelled to discover my real name and position to Madame the Baroness. She had seen the account of your appointment as Secretary of Legation, coupled with the theory that you had accepted the post mainly for the sake of serving the country in a place far removed from the spot associated with the tragic death of your wife——”
“‘Young and lovely wife,’ I think they put it, Lilith,” said Hereward, with a droll smile. “Well, it was true, so far as I know. My health had broken down under the heavy blow of your loss and your supposed death, Lilith. And when I was convalescent I eagerly snatched at the opportunity of leaving a home that had become hateful to me, and of seeking distraction, not consolation, not forgetfulness, in new scenes and new duties. And madame saw my name in the published list of passengers, I suppose?”
“Yes; curiosity, a very natural curiosity, led her to read the list of cabin passengers by the Kron Prinz, to see who were to be our fellow-passengers, and she saw your name there. In another part of the paper she had seen the account of your voyage and its causes, of which I have just told you. But, Tudor, she did not tell me all this until we were out at sea. On that day when she sent for me she gave me, as I said, only an outline of her reasons. She told me that there was a party going out by the Kron Prinz with whom she did not choose to travel.”
“A very proper decision, under the very peculiar circumstances. But what has that got to do——”
“I am rapidly coming to that, Tudor. After we had sailed, when the pilot left us and we were far out of sight of land, Madame Von Bruyin gave me her whole confidence. She told me the story of her early betrothal with an old millionaire; and of her first love—or fancied love—into which her inexperienced heart had betrayed her. She told me everything just as I have told it to you.”
“And as I had told you, months before,” put in Hereward.
“Yes; but you gave me the facts from your point of view, and she gave them to me from her own. And hers was the true view, Tudor.”