the Princess Aline."

Carlton could not withhold a certain start of surprise. He
had not expected that his gift would so soon have arrived, but
his face showed only polite attention.

"The studies were delivered to us in London," continued the
Duke. "They are of Ludwig the tragedian, and of the German
Prime Minister, two most valuable works, and especially
interesting to us. They came without any note or message
which would inform us who had sent them, and when my people
made inquiries, the dealer refused to tell them from whom they
had come. He had been ordered to forward them to Grasse, but,
on learning of our presence in London, sent them direct to our
hotel there. Of course it is embarrassing to have so valuable
a present from an anonymous friend, especially so for my
sister, to whom they were addressed, and I thought that,
besides the pleasure of meeting one of whose genius I am so
warm an admirer, I might also learn something which would
enable me to discover who our friend may be." He paused, but
as Carlton said nothing, continued: "As it is now, I do not
feel that I can accept the pictures; and yet I know no one to
whom they can be returned, unless I send them to the dealer."

"It sounds very mysterious," said Carlton smiling; "and I am
afraid I cannot help you. What work I did in Germany was sold
in Berlin before I left, and in a year may have changed hands
several times. The studies of which you speak are
unimportant, and merely studies, and could pass from hand to
hand without much record having been kept of them; but