America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon
on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."

"You were abusing him!" said Kasia, laughing. "At least, it sounded so
to me!"

"Oh, not at all!" the Prince hastened to assure her. "I found what he
was saying most interesting."

But Vard, with that quick change of mood characteristic of his
temperament, had already decided that it was not worth while attempting
to rear any seed from this barren soil. The Prince's intentions were
good enough, but they would come to nothing--his father would see to
that!

"Nevertheless," said Vard, "I am not an amusing companion. I am too much
of a preacher, and no one likes to be shouted at. I would suggest,
Kasia, that you take His Highness for a tour of the deck."

The Prince's face brightened wonderfully.

"That would indeed be kind!" he said.

Kasia looked at him with a little smile. Perhaps the opportunity of
talking familiarly with royalty piqued her, good democrat as she was;
and then he was not a bad-looking fellow. One could see that he was not
brilliant, but he at least looked clean and honest.

"If you really wish it," she agreed.

For answer, the Prince sprang to the door.

"One moment," Vard interposed. "You will remember, Kasia, that the
Prince is incognito, and that, under no circumstances, must you betray
to any spectator or listener who he is."

"I will remember, father," said Kasia, and followed the Prince out upon
the deck.

Wherefore it presently came to pass that Dan Webster, staring gloomily
down from the after boat-deck upon the flitting beauties of the
first-class promenade, beheld the lady of his dreams strolling beside a
well-set-up young fellow, whose face seemed vaguely familiar, and in
whose conversation she was evidently deeply interested--so interested
that she finally climbed with him to a seat on the upper deck; and when
they sat down, Dan saw that the young fellow sat very close indeed. He
stared incredulously for a moment longer, and then turned angrily away,
to bump violently into M. Chevrial, who was also staring.

"What the...." Dan began, and then stopped himself. What right had this
Frenchman to stare? But then, for that matter, what right had he?

Chevrial was the first to recover himself. He glanced at Dan's disturbed
countenance, and smiled as he read his thought.

"I was surprised to see a passenger of the second-class so calmly
enjoying the privileg