The poor little Princess, happily widowed at one-and-twenty, had shivered the idea of love out of her system for some years.

Then, as is the way of woman, she regained her curiosities.

Great lady, of enormous fortune, she could have satisfied them, had she so chosen, with the large cynicism of a Catherine of Russia.

She could also, had she so chosen, have married one of a hundred sighing and decorous gentlemen; but with none of them had she fallen ever so little in love, and without love she determined to try no more experiments; her determination, however, did not involve surrender of interest in the subject.

Hence the notable discussion on the June night.