Colonel Audley sealed his letter, wrote the direction, and got up. "Quite true," he assured the Prince, and went out to deliver his note to the waiting servant.
The Prince turned an astonished countenance towards Lord Fitzroy, and said, stammering a little, as he always did when excited "B - but it's - it's n - not possible! Scores of men have offered for Lady Bab, and she refused them all!"
"Well, she's chosen a very good man in the end," responded Fitzroy, seating himself at the desk.
"My poor Fitzroy, you do not understand! It is most remarkable - eclatant!"
"I see nothing very remarkable in two persons falling in love," said Fitzroy with unaltered calm. "Did I happen to mention that I was busy?"
"I am your superior officer," declared the Prince. "I command that you attend to me, and immediately treat me with respect."
Lord Fitzroy promptly stood up, and clicked his heels together. "I beg your Royal Highness's pardon!"
His Royal Highness made a grab at a heavy paperweight on the desk, but Lord Fitzroy was quicker. The entrance into the room of a very junior member of the staff put an end to what promised to be a most undignified scene. Lord Fitzroy at once released the paperweight, and the Prince, acknowledging the newcomer's salute, departed in search of a more appreciative audience.
By the end of the day the news of the engagement had spread all over Brussels. Both parties to it had had to endure congratulation, incredulity, and much raillery. The Colonel bore it with his usual good humour, but he was not surprised, on his arrival in the Rue Ducale, to find his betrothed in a stormy mood. Neither his host nor his hostess was in the salon when he entered it; there was only Lady Barbara, standing by the fireplace with her elbow on the mantelshelf, and one sandalled foot angrily tapping the floor.
The servant announced Colonel Audley, and he walked in to encounter a flashing glance from Barbara's eyes. Her lips parted, not smiling, and he saw her teeth gritted together. He laughed, and went up to her, and took her hands. "My dear, has it been very bad?" he asked. "Do you think you can bear it?"