the other morning. I never was more surprised in all my life. For once
I was almost caught with my guard down, and did not know how to parry
the thrust. I mumbled over some sort of a lame retaliation and beat a
retreat. It was so unjust and uncalled-for that it made me angry; but
she was so gracious in her amends that I was almost glad it happened.
I like a woman who can be as savage as the very devil when it pleases
her; she usually has in store an assortment of possibilities for the
other extreme."

"She told me of your encounter," I returned, "but said she had come
off second best, and seemed to think her overthrow a huge joke."

"The man who learns to know what a woman thinks and feels will have a
great deal of valuable information," he replied; and then turned over
for sleep, greatly pleased that one woman thought as she did.

I was not sure he would be so highly flattered if he knew that he had
been invited to settle a wager, and to help Mary to a little sport.

As to the former, I had an interest there myself, although I dared not
settle the question by asking Brandon if he played cards and danced;
and, as to the matter of Mary's sport, I felt there was but little, if
any, danger of her having too much of it at his expense, Brandon being
well able to care for himself in that respect.

The next evening, at the appointed time, we wended our way, by an
unfrequented route, and presented ourselves, as secretly as possible,
at the drawing-room of the princess.

The door was opened by Lady Jane, and we met the two girls almost at