"What! Not even walk through the Polonaise with me? Well, I shall forswear the mazes also. Will you come to the conservatory? I think there is some amazing flower of Lady Juliana's out—blooms once in a hundred years or so. Come and see it."
"I think that your presence is expected in the ball-room. Lieutenant Falconcourt has been dispatched to seek for you."
His grace glanced at his tablets and frowned.
"Too late to keep my promise now," he muttered, "so I may as well follow my own inclinations. I shall remain conveniently invisible, with your permission, Miss Walsingham."
"Your grace must not count upon my permission."
"Hulloa!" cried a voice "Cousin Julie is on the tenterhooks of impatience for you, Piermont. You are too late to open the ball with her. Oh, do I see Miss Walsingham?"
Lieutenant Falconcourt joined the pair with looks of curiosity, and rendered his respects to my lady's companion.
"Remain here a few moments, while I see Lady Juliana," said the young duke, hurriedly pressing her hand.
In a moment he was gone, and Harry Falconcourt was in his place by her side.
"My dear Miss Walsingham," he said, half gayly, but with a slight appearance of anxiety in his manner, which did not escape her notice, "do you know that you have cast a spell over our duke, which he seems inclined to wear under the very eyes of my Cousin Julie?"