ll to Miss Penelope.
I have had news tonight over the telephone and I find that I must
curtail my visit."

"The Duke will be disappointed," Somerfield said. "Are you off at once?"

"Probably tomorrow," the Prince answered. "May I leave Miss Penelope
in your charge?" he added with a little bow. "The Duke, I believe, is
awaiting me."

He passed out of the conservatory. Penelope sat quite still.

"Well," Somerfield said, "if he is really going--"

"Charlie," she interrupted, "if ever you expect me to marry you, I make
one condition, and that is that you never say a single word against
Prince Maiyo."

"The man whom a month ago," he remarked curiously, "you hated!"

She shook her head.

"I was an idiot," she said. "I did not understand him and I was
prejudiced against his country."

"Well, as he actually is going away," Sir Charles remarked with a sigh
of content, "I suppose it's no use being jealous."

"You haven't any reason to be," Penelope answered just a little
wistfully. "Prince Maiyo has no room in his life for such frivolous
creatures as women."

The Prince found the rest of the party dispersed in various directions.
Lady Grace was playing billiards with Captain Wilmot. She showed every
disposition to lay down her cue when he entered the room.

"Do come and talk to us, Prince," she begged. "I am so tired of this
stupid game, and I am sure Captain Wilmot is bored to tears."

The Prince shook his head.

"Thank you," he said, "but I must find the Duke. I have just received a
telephone message and I fear that I may have to leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!" she cried in dismay.

The Prince sighed.

"If not tomorrow, the next day," he answered. "I have had a summons--a
summons which I cannot disobey. Shall I find your father in the library,
Lady Grace?"

"Yes!" she answered. "He is there with Mr. Haviland and Sir Edward. Are
you really going to waste your last evening in talking about treaties
and such trifles?"

"I am afraid I must," he answered regretfully.

"You are a hopelessly disappointing person," she declared a little
pitifully.

"It is because you are all much too kind to me that you think so," he
answered. "You make me welcome amongst you even as one of yourselves.
You forget--you would almost teach me to forget that I am only a
wayfarer here."

"That is your own choice," she said, coming a little nearer to him.

"Ah, no," he answered. "There is no choice! I serve a great mistress,
and