ing led around. The Prince
noted them approvingly.

"Very nice horses," he said,--"light, but very nice. That one I like
best," he added, pointing to a dark bay mare, who was already giving her
boy some trouble.

"That's lucky," the Duke answered, "for she's your mount. I must go and
talk to the clerk about your entry. It is a little late, but I think
that it will be all right."

The Prince glanced over Lady Grace's mare and turned aside to join
Penelope and Somerfield.

"I like the look of my horse, Sir Charles," he said. "I think that I
shall beat you today."

"We both start at five to one," Somerfield answered. "Shall we have a
bet?"

"With pleasure," the Prince agreed. "Will you name the amount? I do not
know what is usual."

"Anything you like," Somerfield answered, "from ten pounds to a
hundred."

"One hundred,--we will say one hundred, then," the Prince declared. "My
mount against yours. So!"

He threw off his overcoat, and they saw for the first time that he
was dressed in English riding clothes of dark material, but absolutely
correct cut.

"I must go now and be introduced to the Clerk of the Course," he said.
"Ah, here is Lady Grace!" he added. "Come with me, Lady Grace. Your
father is seeing about my entry. I think that in five minutes the bell
will ring."

Everything was in order, and a few minutes later the Prince came out.
The mare was stripped, and the whole party gathered round to watch him
mount. He swung himself into the saddle without hesitation. The mare
suddenly reared. Prince Maiyo only smiled, and with loose reins stooped
and patted her neck. He seemed to whisper something in her ear, and
she stood for a moment afterwards quite still. Lady Grace drew a quick
breath.

"What did you say to her, Prince?" she asked. "She is behaving
beautifully except for that first start."

"Your mare understands Japanese, Lady Grace," the Prince answered,
smiling. "She and I are going to be great friends. Show me the way,
please. Ah, I follow that other horse! I see. Lady Grace, au revoir. You
shall have your cup."

"Gad, I believe she will!" the Duke exclaimed. "Look at the fellow ride.
His body is like whalebone."

The parade in front of the stand was a short one. The Prince rode by
in the merest canter. The mare made one wild plunge which would have
unseated any ordinary person, but her rider never even moved in his
saddle.

"I never saw a fellow sit so close in my life," the Duke declare