"I never understood before how actual a
thing rank is here."
"Cannot it be bought? I am going to look into that when
this huge feed is over," Miss Hassard said to herself.
Late in the evening she danced with Count Odo, and
prattled to him in a childish, frank fashion which he
found very charming.
"Your rules of precedence are very disagreeable!" she
pouted. "Especially when one sits at the foot of the
table and is served last."
"They must seem queer to you," he said, laughing, "but
they are inflexible as iron."
"But they will bend for Miss Dunbar, if she makes up her
mind to marry your cousin?"she asked, looking up
into his face like an innocent child.
"No. Hugo makes a serious sacrifice in marrying a woman
of no birth," he said. "He must give up his place and
title as head of the family. She will not be received at
court nor in certain houses; she must always remain out-
side of much of his social life."
He led her back to Miss Vance. She seemed to be struck
dumb, and even forgot to smile when he bowed low and
thanked her for the dance.
"Let us go home," she whispered to Clara. "The American
girl is a fool who marries one of these men!"
When Miss Vance's carriage reached her hotel, she found
Prince Hugo's coupe before the door.
"He has come to see Lucy, alone!" she said indignantly,
as she hurried up the steps. "He has no right to annoy
her!"
She met him coming out of the long salle. The little
man walked nervously, fingering his sword hilt.
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