"Certainly not; but what became of the man who was no longer young? How bore he the loss of hopes to which he had clung all the more tenaciously because he had not many more to lose?"
"That, as a punishment for your scepticism, you are to say yourself."
"How can I? Had he been a poet he might have written a novel, after the manner of the 'Elective Affinities,' and thus cleared his soul from the purgatory of jealousy and humiliation. But being no poet ..."
"I assume it. I am driven to assume things, am I not?"
"Therefore his ultimate fate is quite problematical to me. There are so many and such various possibilities. Perhaps he killed himself, or perhaps he married your fair friend."
"My friend--Claudine? Oh, this is exquisite!" The Princess laughed aloud, and Bertram laughed too.
"It is not," he said, "after all so very laughable, or at least so very improbable. Upon the basis of mutual imperturbability, I should think one could erect and overthrow and rebuild relationships, like houses of cards."
"Mow malicious!" cried Alexandra, "and yet how true! Claudine must hear of this; I must write this to Claudine!"
"For goodness sake not, most gracious lady; or, anyhow, do not mention me by name! I travel a good deal, the lady probably too; we might meet some day by some unlucky chance, even as the luckiest of chances has brought me into your presence. How hideously embarrassed I should be!"
"Very well, your name shall not be mentioned, then. Here is my hand in pledge of this."
And she held out to him her small hand with its many rings.
"But now I really must disturb your tête-à-tête," said Hildegard, entering from the adjoining drawing-room.
"It is just finished!" the Princess called out to her; then turning again to Bertram, she said, "And thank you very much for a most charming _causerie_!"
"It is for me to say thank you, my Lady. Your story was most interesting, and you told it capitally."
He touched those slim fingers with his lips as Alexandra left him. She hurried up to Hildegard, who had remained standing, gazing with great wondering eyes at the group by the fireside, and putting her arm through that of her hostess and drawing her away with her, the Russian lady whispered--
"You are absolutely mistaken, or else the man is the greatest actor I ever saw."