mechanism since then," he said, with an air, "but I am afraid
the men of to-day don't do that sort of thing for the women of
to-day."

"Then it is the men who have deteriorated," said one of the
equerries, bowing to Miss Morris; "it is certainly not the
women."

The two Americans looked at Miss Morris to see how she
received this, but she smiled good-naturedly.

"I know a man who did more than that for a woman," said
Carlton, innocently. "He crossed an ocean and several
countries to meet her, and he hasn't met her yet."

Miss Morris looked at him and laughed, in the safety that no
one understood him but herself.

"But he ran no danger," she answered.

"He didn't, didn't he?" said Carlton, looking at her closely
and laughing. "I think he was in very great danger all the time."

"Shocking!" said Miss Morris, reprovingly; "and in her very
presence, too." She knitted her brows and frowned at him. "I
really believe if you were in prison you would make pretty
speeches to the jailer's daughter."

"Yes," said Carlton, boldly, "or even to a woman who was a
prisoner herself."