Lorry was removed to another room before dinner, as she had
promised.

After they had dined the two strangers were left alone for
several hours. Anguish regaled his friend with an enthusiastic
dissertation on the charms of the Countess Dagmar,
lady-in-waiting to the Princess. In conclusion he said glowingly,
his cigar having been out for half an hour or more because his
energy had been spent in another direction.

"You haven't seen much of her, Lorry, but I tell you she is rare.
And she's not betrothed to any of these confounded counts or
dukes either. They all adore her but she's not committed."

"How do you know all this?" demanded Lorry, who but half heard
through his dreams.

"Asked her, of course. How in thunder do you suppose?"

"And you've known her but a day? Well, you are progressive."

"Oh, perfectly natural conversation, you know," explained
Anguish, composedly. "She began it by asking me if I were
married, and I said I wasn't even engaged. Then I asked her if
she were married. You see, from the title, you can't tell
whether a countess is married or single. She said she wasn't,
and I promptly and very properly expressed my amazement. By
Jove, she has a will and a mind of her own, that young woman has.
She's not going to marry until she finds a man of the right sort
--which is refreshing. I like to hear a girl talk like that,