.

MADEMOISELLE OF THE VEIL.
The public park at night was a revelation to Maurice, who, lonely and restless, strolled over from the hotel in quest of innocent amusement.
He was none the worse for his unintended bath; indeed, if anything, he was much the better for it.

His imagination was excited.

It was not every day that a man could, at one and the same time, fall out of a boat and into the presence of a princess of royal blood.
He tried to remember all he had said to her, but only two utterances recurred to him; yet these caused him an exhilaration like the bouquet of old wine.

He had told her that she was beautiful, indirectly, it was true; she had accepted his friendship, also indirectly, it was true.