One day a Hungarian officer met him on the street and said "Captain wouldn't you like to be presented to the young lady you met on the river at Visegrad ?" "Would a duck swim ?" The officer told him to be ready that evening and he would take him around to their private box in the National Theatre.

Paul was ready a couple of hours before the appointed time.

They entered the box and the object of Paul's dreams arose and advancing with a charming smile, said in English: "I'm so delighted to see you, Captain." "Not any more than I am to see you.

Why didn't you speak English to me on the river ?" "Well," she exclaimed, "I was a little confused and did not remember that Americans spoke English, but let me present you to my mother and the gentlemen." Paul was then introduced to an Austrian officer and a count who with her mother were occupants of the box.

Little attention was paid to the play going on by Paul, who kept up a running conversation in English mixed with French, with the charming girl at his side, but wily diplomat that he was, he got in an occasional remark to her mother in German.