She flushed into enthusiasm.

“You should see Meudon, Marli, Versailles!” she cried. “You would appreciate them—palaces——”

He interrupted her.

“Such as I shall never achieve, Madame. My father built these modest rooms, nor am I like to build anything finer.”

She glanced at his grave young face.

“Now why?” she asked, her voice falling softly.

“Because I think to have other things to do, Madame.”

The sarabande had come to an end.

The Prince turned to his companion with a composed air of courtliness—