A Prince to Order

and across a plateau of primrose-coloured orchids the charming Mrs. Dickie Venable had at intervals favoured him with fleeting smiles. Nicholas Van Tuyl, slee

ected his carpe au buerre noir; "there are quite a number here this evening." His pose as mentor was apt to grow an

e is," cried Hope enthusiastically, her great dark ey

es, he must be here, surely. I

ontinents were represented. It was indeed a veritable congress of nations. Monarchs, kings dethroned, and pretenders rubbed elbows. Women of the world and of the half-world brushed skirts. Dazzling toilets of deli

s face; "there, off to the right.64 You can just see his white t

ed, stretching, twis

isn't he?" observed Mrs

s his café au lait com

ed Lady Constance, who had lunched next to him and hi

ed Hope pleadingly

d. She was auburn-haired, generously proportioned, and rathe

"He has a special bowl twice the ordinary

ickie; "he should be arres

hed in the exercise of his métier; "have you noticed the sallow-faced, heavy-browed and long-moustache

is breast?" asked Miss Van Tuyl, leaning back and gazing o

Edson; and then he glanced about to

nce he was here last. Do you know when he was in Berlin some years ago he sat next to the Empress Augusta at a

ting his hands on the bare shoulder

said Mr. Van Tuyl, presently, as a waiter passed th

ery latest, you know. Was a Quartier Latin model six months ago and is now regarded as the most beautiful woman in Pari

or he. He gained a reputation as a wife-beater or something, didn't he? At all events I'll bet

all; a little fickle, perhaps, but with his love of beauty and his opportunit

he paper this morning? The King is very ill. Can't live a fortnight; and there is a question as to the succession. It seems that the Cr

Dickie, putting down her fork to lis

Hugo; as thorough a reprobate, th

d turn up at this juncture?" suggested Edson; a

ility been hinted

pression that he knew more than he cared to divulge. "I had a68 call today from an officer of the Budavian army. He

of the situation,

it. I met him last year in Vie

asked Mrs. Dickie, quickly. "

e. He was listening to Fr

a lost man will reappear. After today I shall make it a rule

er eyes were apprehensive. The speaker, however, detected neither. He had, in fact, quite forgotten, if he had ever heard, that there

ey, the a

suddenly white as the damask napery. Her jewelled fingers clutched the edge of the table. She felt that

Van Tuyl, in amazement. "Surel

of it. I ta

laimed Edson and

r emptying his champagne glass; "he has bleached

e!" This fro

ng anything for five months; brain fever or s

ance broke in. "He came over with an American polo

by Jove, a rattling good fellow in every way. It was a surprise to everyone when he went wrong." He had bee

thing was simply astounding. He had a good business, h

ure," answered Frothingham, as h

twirling the long stem of a fragile wineglass b

iously leaned forward

w. I never thou

ndar had been fluttered back a twelvemonth by the melody, and she was out under the stars with the cool breeze from the Hudson fanning her flushed cheeks. Through the open French windows of the clubhouse at her back the music was floating. Beside her, his arm girdling her waist, was the man to whom she had just promised her love and loyalty-the man whose name she woul

anxious eyes had still been upon her. "Drink your wine, girl; you aren't ill, ar

recovering herself. "I fear for the moment I was v

and as everybody seemed to approve I took the opportunity to a

ly, though a dull, leaden pain was gripping

trees and floated like a silver boat73 in the deep blue sea of the heavens, they took their places again and went spinning at frantic speed out into the Allée de Longchamp. A quick turn to the left

he admired. She was tall and athletic, fond of sports and clever at them, but not so much of an enthusiast as to be open to the charge of having unsexed herself. She was, indeed, intensely feminine. Though she could handle a coach and four as dexterously as the average masculine whip and could drive a golf ball well on to two hundred yards, her hands were as74 delicately white and her fingers a

or her. Now, as they were sweeping with exhilarating speed down the long avenue, with its double row of glittering lights that flashe

y instantly, as though the contact were painful. He fancied then that he had pe

me. Have I75 been guilty of a

not listening, and he broke of

put them down. Frothingham, who had taken lodgings not fa

and soda," he said,

han she knew until his crime and his flight, and, above all, his desertion without a word of explanation, revealed to her the fulness of her passion. Then she had battled with herself for a time; had grown philosophic and had reasoned, and eventually had gathered

ar a window, arose, took up something from her dressing-t

d a very delicious French accent. She preferred to speak in English, though Miss Va

ght's glare; and then the little blue sheet dropped from her nerveless fingers, and she reeled. Had it not been for Marcelle she might have fallen; but the girl, bu

cried in alarm; "my poor m'amselle!

nd picked up the sheet of blue paper, placing it on the table under the lamp. As she did so her quick eye took in enough to satisfy her as to its import. It was from Miss Van Tuyl's brother in New York, a

erated and reiterated to herself; "but what is it he means by 'in-ex-pleek-able'? 'Conditio