CHAPTER XVII.
"This little difference of opinion," the Prince remarked, looking thoughtfully through the emerald green of his liqueur, "interests me.
Our friend Dolinski here thinks that he will not come because he will be afraid.

De Brouillac, on the contrary, says that he will not come because he is too sagacious.

Felix here, who knows him best, says that he will not come because he prefers ever to play the game from outside the circle, a looker-on to all appearance, yet sometimes wielding an unseen force.

It is a strong position that." Lucille raised her head and regarded the last speaker steadily.
"And I, Prince!" she exclaimed, "I say that he will come because he is a man, and because he does not know fear." The Prince of Saxe Leinitzer bowed low towards the speaker.
"Dear Lucille," he said, so respectfully that the faint irony of his tone was lost to most of those present, "I, too, am of your opinion.
The man who has a right, real or fancied, to claim you must indeed be a coward if he suffered dangers of any sort to stand in the way.

After all, dangers from us! Is it not a little absurd ?" Lucille looked away from the Prince with a little shudder.