The table stood back a little way among the trees, and was hidden from the Palace by the hedge of rhododendron, that flanked the roadway where it swept around the great marble pergola; and so they did not see the man in undress cavalry uniform, who came slowly along the terrace, and, descending the steps, took the path leading to the sun-dial. At it he paused, with desultory interest seemingly, to read the shadow; bending over, the while, to blow away the dust.
As he did so, the Princess saw him, through a rift in the hedge. First she frowned, then a quizzical smile settled on her lips, and she glanced again at Courtney.
“Do you still doubt?” she asked.
Courtney, preoccupied, looked at her a moment without replying.
“Yes,” he said; “being a man and intuitionless, I still must doubt.”
At that moment, the officer passed the hedge and they all saw him.
“Cousin!” the Princess called,—“cousin!”
The Duke of Lotzen faced about sharply, then doffed cap and approached.
“Your Highness spoke?” he said, bowing.
Dehra leaned on the table, her chin in her hand, and studied him a bit, while the others wondered, and Armand’s anger rose.