o 3b3e7475144cf77c

"I have spent many Christmases at the Meissner home," continues the young American. "I had

the pleasure of listening to you address your people each year; also I heard your honored

father, before the war."

"Indeed?" says Seine Hochgeboren, again. "I cannot live there any longer, but I go back two

or three times a year, out of loyalty to my people." The gray-haired warrior is conveying to a

former foe: "I cannot bear to live in my ancestral home because it has become a part of

Poland, and is governed by persons whom I consider almost subhuman. You and your armies

did it, by meddling without warrant in the affairs of Germany and snatching her hard-won

victory from her grasp. Then you went off and left us to be plundered by the rapacious French

and the shopkeeping British."

It is not a subject to be explored, so Lanny says some polite words of no special significance and

passes on, reflecting: "If Johannes thinks he is winning that gentleman, he is surely fooling

himself!"

XIII

But Lanny was making a mistake, as he discovered later in the evening. The stiff aristocrat

approached him and spoke again, in a more cordial tone. "Mr. Budd, I have been realizing, I

remember you in Stubendorf. Also I have heard Meissner speak of you."

"Herr Meissner has treated me as if I were another of his sons," replied Lanny, modestly.

" Ein braver Mensch," said Seine Hochgeboren. "His sons have rendered admirable

service." He went on to speak of the family of his Comptroller-General, upon whose capability

and integrity he depended as had his father before him. While hearing this formal speech,

Lanny guessed what must have happened. The dowager Valkyrie had reminded the General

Graf that this was the lucky young Taugenichts who had married the fabulously wealthy

heiress. Not, as Seine Hochgeboren had supposed, some young snipe trying to make himself

important by claiming intimacy with one of a nobleman's employees!

So here was a great aristocrat manifesting condescension, noblesse oblige. He knew all about

Mr. Budd, oh, of course! "Kurt Meissner composed much of his music in your home, I have

heard." He didn't add: "Kurt Meissner was your mother's lover for many years, I have

heard." He talked about Kurt's compositions and showed that he really knew about them; echt

deutsche Musik which could be praised without reserve. A young Franco-American who had

built a studio for a musical genius to work in could meet on equal terms a Junker who had

furnished a cottage for the genius to raise his

family in.

Presently it came out that Lanny had served as a secretary-translator on the staff of the

American Commission to Negotiate Peace. "I should be interested to talk to you about those

Paris days," remarked the officer. "You might be able to explain some points about the

American attitude which have always been a mystery to me."

"I should be pleased to do my best," said Lanny, politely. "You must realize that your

beautiful Schloss made a great impression upon a small boy, and your father and yourself

appeared to me as very grand personalities."

Seine Hochgeboren smiled graciously. He hadn't the slightest doubt that, his father had been

a grand personality, or that he was one now. "Are you planning to come to Stubendorf this

Christmas?" he inquired.

"Kurt has been inviting us," was the reply. "I am not sure if we can arrange it."

"I would be happy if you and your wife would visit the Schloss as my guests," said the

General Graf.

"Thank you very much," replied the younger man. "I should have to ask the Meissners to give

us up."

"I think they would do so," the other suggested, dryly.

"I will let you know a little later. I must consult my wife." Another peculiarity of Americans—

they consulted their wives instead of telling them! But of course when the wife was as rich as this

one —what was her name?

XIV

They watched that valuable wife, dancing with a handsome young attache of the American

embassy staff. She was more than ever the young brunette Juno; some skilled couturier must

have had the thought, for he had made her a gown of white silk chiffon with a hint of ancient

Greece in it. For jewels she wore only her double rope of pearls; a fortune such as hers was

beyond any quantity of stones to symbolize, and had better be left to the newspapers to proclaim.

She danced with stately grace, smiled gently, and never chattered; yes, a young goddess, and an

ornament to any Schieber's ballroom.

When the party was over, Lanny escorted her upstairs. She had promised to have no more

than two glasses of champagne, and had kept her word, but was not a little excited by the

presence of so many distinguished persons, all of whom had costumes, manners, and modes of

speech calculated to impress the daughter of a onetime Wall Street errand boy. She and her

husband talked about this one and that while the maid helped her off with her gown. After she