"They have their reasons--many things to think of; how can one tell?
But there's always, also, the chance of his proposing to me that we shall have our last hours together; I mean that he and I shall.

He may wish to take me off to dine with him somewhere alone--and to do it in memory of old days.

I mean," the Princess went on, "the real old days; before my grand husband was invented and, much more, before his grand wife was: the wonderful times of his first great interest in what he has since done, his first great plans and opportunities, discoveries and bargains.

The way we've sat together late, ever so late, in foreign restaurants, which he used to like; the way that, in every city in Europe, we've stayed on and on, with our elbows on the table and most of the lights put out, to talk over things he had that day seen or heard of or made his offer for, the things he had secured or refused or lost! There were places he took me to--you wouldn't believe!--for often he could only have left me with servants.

If he should carry me off with him to-night, for old sake's sake, to the Earl's Court Exhibition, it will be a little--just a very, very little--like our young adventures." After which while Amerigo watched her, and in fact quite because of it, she had an inspiration, to which she presently yielded.