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with much delight that many of the volumes were about foreign countries. Because her uncle had travelled so much as a diplomat he had collected what had become an exceptionally fine library of foreign books, many of which were unobtainable in England.
    She began selecting some books from the shelves that she particularly wanted to read.
    She had already found two large books on the Near East when she heard her aunt next door say quite clearly,
    â€œVarin, it is delightful to see you.”
    â€œAnd I am very charmed to see you again, Cousin Violet,” a man’s voice replied. “You are looking even lovelier than when we last met, I think it must have been five years ago.”
    â€œIs it as long as that?” queried Lady Violet. “Well, you have become most important in the meantime and I hear people singing your praises wherever I go.”
    The Duke chuckled.
    â€œWhat you have actually heard, if you are honest, is my family begging me on their knees to get married.”
    â€œI am afraid it was exactly what they were saying,” said Lady Violet sympathetically.
    â€œThey will just never leave me alone, Violet. With the result that I intend to travel abroad again as soon as possible, so that I don’t have to listen to them.”
    â€œWhat has turned you so against marriage, dear Varin? To me, as you know, it is the most wonderful estate in the world.”
    â€œYou are certainly fortunate,” responded the Duke. “If I fall in love as you and Cousin Edward did, then I shall thank God on my knees. But at the moment I am thanking Him that I am still a bachelor and do not have to endure the inevitable boredom of a woman trying her best to change me from what I am into what she wants me to be!”
    Lady Violet laughed.
    â€œI do know exactly what you mean. But I do not think, Varin, you have come to talk to me about your desire for perpetual bachelorhood.”
    â€œNo, I am just making it very clear, since you are a relative, that I have no intention for at least another twenty years of acquiring any Duchess to be nagging away at my side!”
    Lady Violet laughed again.
    â€œNow tell me exactly why you are here.”
    There was just a short pause and the eavesdropping Elva found herself waiting as eagerly as her aunt for the Duke’s reply.
    â€œI went to see the Prime Minister yesterday,” he began, “and you will remember that I was at Pembroke with him?”
    â€œYes, of course, you are about the same age and I know you have always been close friends.”
    â€œVery close,” the Duke now admitted confidentially, “and that is why he has asked me to undertake a special mission for him. Of course it is most sensitive and I am only telling you because you know better than anyone else how important and secret anything is which concerns our Prime Minister.”
    â€œI have not existed in the Diplomatic Service all these years for nothing,” Lady Violet commented with a rueful smile.
    â€œWhat he has requested me to do, Cousin Violet, is to travel to St. Petersburg. I thought, as I know you have only just spent some time in Russia, you would be able to advise me how I can best help him.”
    Lady Violet now regarded the Duke with what he thought was a very worried expression in her eyes.
    â€œWhat is wrong?” he asked apprehensively.
    â€œIt is difficult for me to say this,” replied Lady Violet, “but it is really quite impossible for you to go to St. Petersburg.”
    The Duke stared at her.
    â€œBut why?” he demanded.
    â€œTo put it bluntly, because of your looks!”
    The Duke was for a moment too surprised to speak and Lady Violet explained,
    â€œYou are tall, dark and extremely handsome. Three attributes which make it just impossible for you to go to Russia.”
    â€œBut why? I do not understand!”
    â€œI will tell you in as few words as possible, dear Varin. Many years ago, as we all now