IN another moment they were all three talking quite nicely, and with at any rate an appearance of being natural.

Prince Aribert became suave, even deferential to Nella, and more friendly towards Nella's father than their respective positions demanded.

The latter amused himself by studying this sprig of royalty, the first with whom he had ever come into contact.

He decided that the young fellow was personable enough, 'had no frills on him,' and would make an exceptionally good commercial traveller for a first-class firm.

Such was Theodore Racksole's preliminary estimate of the man who might one day be the reigning Grand Duke of Posen.
It occurred to Nella, and she smiled at the idea, that the bureau of the hotel was scarcely the correct place in which to receive this august young man.