IN the tense silence of the few moments of waiting Paul passed from the boy to whom the earth had been a fairyland to the man grappling with great realities.

In those few moments he lived through his past life and faced an adumbration of the future.
The door was thrown open and the Princess appeared, smiling, happy, a black ostrich feather in her hat and a sable stole hanging loose from her shoulders; a great and radiant lady.

Behind her came the Colonel and Ursula Winwood.

Paul bent over the Princess's, outstretched hand.
"A thousand pardons for keeping you waiting.

I did not know you had come.