The Colonel of the Red Huzzars | Page 2

"What ails them?" I asked.
"Everything--particularly Chaffee's notion that white uniforms don't

suit the climate?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Is that a criticism of your superior officer?" Marmont demanded.
"That is never done in the Army," I answered.
"Which being the case let us take a drink," said Westlake, and led the
way to the café.
"Looks rather squally in Europe," Courtney observed, as the dice were
deciding the privilege of signing the check.
"It will blow over, I fancy," I answered.
"Have you seen the afternoon papers?"
"No."
"Then you don't know the Titian Ambassador has been recalled."
"Indeed! Well, I still doubt if it means fight."
Courtney stroked his grey imperial. "Getting rather near one, don't you
think?" he said.
"No closer than France and Turkey were only a short while ago," I
answered. "Moreover, in this case, the Powers would have a word to
say."
"Yes, they are rather ready to speak out on such occasions; but, unless
I'm much mistaken, if the Titians and the Valerians get their armies
moving it will take more than talk from the Powers to stop them."
"And it's all over a woman," I observed carelessly.
Courtney gave me a sharp glance. "I thought that was rather a secret,"
he replied.

I laughed. "It's one, at least, that the newspapers have not
discovered--yet. But, where did you get it?"
"From a friend; same as yourself," he said, with the suggestion of a
smile.
"My dear fellow," I said. "I know more about the Kingdom of Valeria
than--well, than your friend and all his assistants of the State
Department."
"I don't recall mentioning the State Department," Courtney replied.
"You didn't. I was honoring your friend by rating him among the
diplomats."
He ignored my thrust. "Ever been to Valeria?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Recently?"
"About six years ago."
"Is that the last time?"
"What are you driving at?" I asked.
He answered with another question: "Seen the last number of the
London Illustrated News?"
"No," I answered.
He struck the bell. "Bring me the London News," he said to the boy.
Opening it at the frontispiece he pushed it across to me.
"Has she changed much since you saw her?" he asked, and smiled.
It was a woman's face that looked at me from the page; and, though it
was six years since I had seen it last, I recognized it instantly. There

was, however, a certain coldness in the eyes and a firm set of the lip
and jaw that were new to me. But, as I looked, they seemed to soften,
and I could have sworn that for an instant the Princess Dehra of Valeria
smiled at me most sweetly--even as once she herself had done.
"You seem uncommonly well pleased with the lady," Courtney
observed.
I handed back the News.
"You have not answered my question," he insisted.
"Look here, Courtney," I said, "it seems to me you are infernally
inquisitive to-night."
"Maybe I am--only, I wanted to know something," and he laughed
softly.
"Well?"
"I think I know it now," he said.
"Do you?" I retorted.
"Want to make a bet?" he asked.
"I never bet on a certainty," said I.
Courtney laughed. "Neither do I, so here's the wager:--a dinner for
twenty that you and I are in Valeria thirty days from to-night and have
dined with the King and danced with the Princess."
"Done!" said I.
"All I stipulate is that you do nothing to avoid King Frederick's
invitation."
"And the Princess?" I asked.

"I'm counting on her to win me the bet," he laughed.
I picked up the picture and studied it again. The longer I looked the
more willing I was to give Courtney a chance to eat my dinner.
"If the opportunity comes I'll dance with her," I said.
"Of course you will--but will you stop there, I wonder?"
I tapped my grey-besprinkled hair.
"They are no protection," he said. "I don't trust even my own to keep
me steady against a handsome woman."
"They are playing us false even now," said I. "I'm not going to Valeria
to decide a dinner bet."
"You're not. You're going as the representative of our Army to observe
the Valerian-Titian War."
"You're as good as a gypsy or a medium. When do I start?"
"Don't be rude, my dear chap, and forget that, under the wager, I'm to
be in the King's invitation--also the dance. We sail one week from
to-day."
"A bit late to secure accommodations, isn't it?"
"They are booked--on the Wilhelm der Grosse."
"You are playing a long shot--several long shots," I
laughed:--"War--Washington--me."
"Wrong," said Courtney. "I'm playing only War. I have the Secretary
and the Princess has you."
"You have the Secretary!"
"Days ago."

"The Devil!" I exclaimed, lifting my glass abstractedly.
"The Princess! you mean," said