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 responded Colonel Berkeley in English. "She spoke English long before she learned Rooshan, if she ever learned it. Hay, Eliza?"

The Colonel's manner was so very dignified, and although jovial, so far removed from familiarity, that Madame Volkonsky did not know whether to be pleased by the recognition or annoyed. If, as it was likely, it should come out that she was an American, here were people of the best standing who could vouch at least for her origin. She held out her hand to the Colonel, and said rapidly in French:

"I am very glad to meet you. I cannot say much here, but I hope to see you presently." When Pembroke made his bow and passed, Volkonsky called up all his ineffable assurance and gave him a scowl, which Pembroke received with a bow and a cool smile that was sarcasm itself. Madame Volkonsky did not look at him as she bowed, nor did he look at her.

In a moment they were clear of the press. The De Peysters were full of curiosity.

"Who were they? Who are they?" breathlessly asked Helena.

"My dear young lady," responded the Colonel, smoothing down his shirt-frill with his delicate old hand, "Who they were I can very easily tell you. Who they are, I am blessed if I know."

While the Colonel was giving a highly picturesque account of Eliza Peyton through all her transformations until she came to be Elise Koller, since when