his heart escape heavenward.

"The whole world will call me a bungling, stupid ass for not knowing who
he was," said Chase, with a wretched smile.

Her face brightened after a moment, and an entrancing smile broke around
her lips.

"If I were you, I'd never confess that I did not know who he was," she
said. "Let the world think that you _did_ know. It will not laugh, then.
If you can trust your friend to keep the secret, I am sure you can trust
me to do the same."

Again Chase was speechless--this time with joy. She would shield him
from ridicule!

"And now, please go! It were better if you went at once. I am afraid the
affair will not end with to-night. It grieves me to feel that I may be
the unhappy cause of misfortune to you."

"No misfortune can appal me now," murmured he gallantly. Then came the
revolting realisation that she was to wed the little musician. The
thought burst from his lips before he could prevent: "I don't believe
you want to marry him. He is the Duke's choice. You--"

"And I am the Duke's daughter," she said steadily, a touch of hauteur in
her voice. "Good-night. Good-bye. I am not sorry that it has happened."

She turned and left them, walking swiftly among the trees. A moment
later her voice came from the shadows, quick and pleading.