"I daresay you know I am not the princess," she said composedly. Every
vestige of fear was gone now that she had reached the line of
battle. The doughty baron looked somewhat surprised at this frank way of
opening the interview.
"I am quite well aware of it," he said politely.
"They say you know everyone, Baron Dangloss," she boldly said. "Pray,
who am I?"
The powerful official looked at the smiling face for a moment, his bushy
eyebrows contracting ever so slightly. There was a shameless streak of
dust across her cheek, but there was also a dimple there that appealed
to the grim old man. His eyes twinkled as he replied, with fine
obsequiousness:
"You are Miss Beverly Calhoun, of Washington."
CHAPTER IX
THE REDOUBTABLE DANGLOSS
Beverly's eyes showed her astonishment. Baron Dangloss courteously
placed a chair for her and asked her to be seated.
"We were expecting you, Miss Calhoun," he explained. "Her royal highness
left St. Petersburg but a few hours after your departure, having
unfortunately missed you."
"You don't mean to say that the princess tried to find me in
St. Petersburg?" cried Beverly, in wonder and delight.
"That was one of the purposes of her visit," said he brusquely.
"Oh, how jolly!" cried she, her gray eyes sparkling. The grim old
captain was startled for the smallest fraction of a minute, but at once
fell to admiring the fresh, eager face of the visitor.
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