She heard, and again that smile. "'_Auf Wiedersehen_' be it," she
answered.

Then she rode away.

I leaned against my horse's shoulder and watched her as she went slowly
down the hill, the full glory of the sinking sun upon her, and the
shadows of the great trees close on either side. Presently there came
a bend in the road and, turning in the saddle, she waved her hand.

I answered with my hat. Then she was gone. That was how I met the
Princess Royal of Valeria. And, unless she has told it (which,
somehow, I doubt), none knows it but ourselves. I had never seen her
since. Perhaps that is why I was quite content for Courtney to win his
bet. Truly, a man's heart does not age with his hair.




III

IN DORNLITZ AGAIN

The declaration of war by Titia had come so suddenly that when Courtney
and I sailed for Europe, the Powers were still in the air and watching
one another. No battle had been fought; but the armies were frowning
at each other on the frontier, and several skirmishes had occurred.

Ostensibly, the trouble was over a slice of territory which Henry the
Third had taken from Titia as an indemnity for some real or fancied