The Illustrious Prince

he Duchess of Devenham, erect, stately, and with a figure which was still irreproachable notwithstanding her white hair. On one side sat her daughter, Lady Grace Red

ugh her lorgnettes, "is certainly a little trying for one's temper and for one's digestion, but so long as those m

ince he began to tread the devious paths of diplomacy, he has br

fun as he used to be,

Sometimes I think that I nev

the Duchess murmured. "I consider him abso

led, and glanc

t Penelope to agree with

rd that you were quite rude to him the other

lip curle

tice my absence from the ranks. Perhaps I am a little prejudiced. At hom

s raised h

ember of an aristocracy which was old before we were thought of! Surely you cannot cla

gged her shou

often. Besides, apart from that, you must remember that I am a patriotic daughter of the Sta

man who had paused before their c

that one meets every one here! Why was not re

tures. Notwithstanding his civilian's clothes, there was no possibility of mi

ays on the qui vive; one never knows whom one may see. Inci

mured. "But then, you soldie

panese war finished me off. They kept us far enough away from the

rince Maiyo," the Duchess

ould find the name of your friend appear there pretty frequently. There wasn't a more brilliant feat of arms in the whole campaign than his

s turned t

ar that?"

ope s

eclared. "If I may not like, I sh

forget that the only piece of hand-to-hand fighting I saw during the whole time was a cavalry charge led by Prince Maiyo against an immensely superior force of Russians. Duchess," the General declared, "those Japanese on their queer little horses went throu

r lorgnettes with a snap, and held out her hand

told me that you were not well,-our wretched climate, of course-and

ness of movement seemed to distinguish him in any way, as regards nationality, from the men by whom he was surrounded. His voice, when he spoke, contained no trace of accent. It was soft and singularly pleas

e, I am beginning to delight in it,-one never knows what to expect, or when one m

ys. Prince, you know my daughter Grace, and I am sure that you have met Miss Penelop

his hostess' daughter,-a tall, fair g

to go in. We can leave a message for Dicky; they all know him at this place. I am afraid he

brought a note to the Duc

s that he may be a few minutes late and that we are not to wait. He will pick us up either here or at the theatre. Prince, sha

ds her with t

ired my personal attention, presented itself at the last moment. I think I can assure you that not

re here at last. And after all, you see, you are not

d on, for a few

great friend of yours

ss shook

y well," she said. "I

ce looke

said, "that Miss Mor

nterrupted hi

st the sort of man to spur him on. He admires Penelope, and does not mind showing it.

ady, indeed, for whom I have a great admiration. I am only so

ss said. "Penelope is a little brusque

the round table which had been reserved

eatrical managers who are to blame. Why they cannot understand that the best play in the world is not worth mor

ince s

rites. Everything in the world must run for you so smoothly or

luncheon, Prince," La

ce answered, "but I have alwa

Your picture is in the new illustrated paper this week, you know, with a little sketch of y

e could not tell, indeed, whether it came from some pleasant thought flitting

ghtful, and the hospitality of the friends I have made over her

ds Sir Charles, who w

ms as though he took life so earnestly. He has a look upon his fa

e serious side," S

d hear preach at the Oratory. He was the same in the pulpit and when one saw him in the s

," Sir Charles remarked. "They do wal

race s

with the Prince," she sa

ally cotton to us, you know. Don't see how he could. He's never touched a polo stick in his life, knows nothing about cricket, is indif

race n

gst us is, after all, in the nature of a pilgrimage. I suppose h

d, laughed softly and

erson you are speaking of would not

he Duchess asked. "It is there any more

e early editions," S

lous. Our police system must be in a disgraceful state. Tell

h us," he added a little thoughtfully, "there is a difference, a difference of which one is remind

u mean?" Penelop

as she was, and Penelope's attitude towards him was marked all the time with a certain frigidity. Yet

he gift of life. Nothing moves you so greatly as the killing

in the world so great

ged his shoulder

iful faith. With us, perhaps, there is a little more philosophy and something a little less definite in the trend of our religion. Yet we do not dre

answer him. Penelope, however, was conscious of an almost feverish desire ei

ir country or for a great cause. Don't you think, though, that the horror of death is a more real thing

one to cross. This mysterious gentleman who seems to have met with his death so unexpectedly-he, to

chess

a romanticist. But, apart from the sentimental side

ich he believed to be worthy, there is no man of my country worthy of the name who would not ac

his glass and bow

allies!" he

. He drank wine only on very rare occasions, and

my reputation. Our conversation seems to have drifted into somewhat gloomy channels. We must ask Miss Morse, I think, to help us to

rfield was watching her closely. Somehow or other, she was irritated and nervous, and she answered vaguely. Sir Charle

s the service of dinner drew toward a close, "

ince a

tage from the West is a sure thing. Not in my days, perhaps,

y," the Duchess declared, as they rose from t

ittle sigh of relief as she rose to her feet. "Mr. Harvey is not alway

your countrymen. I suppose he'll find us sometime during the eveni

their way, but a little lacking in expression. Her figure was good; her movements slow but not ungraceful; her dress of white ivory satin a little extravagant for the occasion. She looked exactly what she was,-a well-bred, well-disposed, healthy young Englishwoman, of aristocratic parentage. Penelope, on the other hand, more simply dressed, save for the string of pearls which hung from her neck, had the look of a creature from another world. She had plenty of animation; a certa

tonight. Tell me what it is? You don

ed in the music. "He is odd, though, isn't he? He is so serious and, in a way, so convincing. He is li

ly to himself. "I suppose, compared with us matter-of-fact

ar appeal to me at al

was suddenl

about the Prince. I have come to the conclusion that you either like him very much, or y

irts. The carriag

n," she declared. "You may

eemed to Penelope, who found herself constantly watching him closely, a certain added gravity in his demeanor. The drive to the theatre

I would keep that evening paper in you

ooked at him

you mean?

ngs so keenly, and Mr. Vanderpole is of the same nationality, is he not, as Miss Morse? If you take

ned to Dicky?" Some

he seemed not to have heard. Pene

aid. "We have two stalls as well, but as Dicky is not here there i

of seeking some change, and tore open his pape

ying," she declared quietly. "Please tell

e's face

"I did not know that our v

t was Sir Charles'. Tell me quic

. Perhaps," he added, "it would be as well, after all, to break this to the Duchess. I was forge

ly very white. He w

e said. "It i

upon her. The buzzing in her ears had ceased; there was something to be done-she m

that something has happened to Dicky. If you do not

hild!" the Duc

"I think it would be better for her to leave at once

out another word, and

urmured. "The Prince will

hem. He placed a chair for the Duchess

Vanderpole met with an accident in a taxicab this eveni