his Highness, next time we meet, for not coming with you to London; then
I am sure you would have stayed longer with us."

"The Prince is a model husband, your Excellency," said Jennie, with a
sly glance at Lord Donal, whose expression of uncertainty increased
as this colloquy went on, "and he would have come to London without
a murmur had his wife been selfish enough to tear him away from his
beloved Meran."

"A model husband!" said the ancient count, with an unctuous chuckle.
"So few of us excel in that respect; but there is this to be
said in our exculpation, few have been matrimonially so fortunate
as the Prince von Steinheimer. I have never ceased to long for a
repetition of the charming visit I paid to your delightful home."

"If your Excellency but knew how welcome you are, your visits would not
have such long intervals between."

"It is most kind of you, Princess, to cheer an old man's heart by such
gracious words. It is our misfortune that affairs of State chain us to
our pillar, and, indeed, diplomacy seems to become more difficult as the
years go on, because we have to contend with the genius of rising young
men like Lord Donal Stirling here, who are more than a match for old
dogs that find it impossible to learn new tricks."

"Indeed, your Excellency," said his lordship, speaking for the first
time since the Ambassador began, "the very reverse of that is the case.
We sit humbly at your feet, ambitious to emulate, but without hope of
excelling."