V

The prince, who had just been joined by Stephen, had descended from his
car and was waiting in the road when Louise and John approached. He came
a few paces forward to meet her, and held out both his hands.

"My dear wandering guest!" he exclaimed. "So I have found you at last!
What shall I say to this mishap which has robbed me of so many hours of
your visit? I am too happy, though, to know that you have suffered no
personal inconvenience."

"Thanks to the great kindness of my hosts," Louise replied, smiling a
little mockingly at Stephen, "I have been completely spoiled here,
prince, and I can only regard my accident as a delightful little
interlude."

The prince bowed, and half held out his hand to Stephen. The latter,
however appeared not to notice the movement.

"I shall always remember with gratitude," the prince declared, "the
kindness of Mr. Strangewey and his brother to my lost guest. I fear," he
went on regretfully, "that I do not seem very neighborly. I am not often
at Raynham Castle, except in August and September. I find your northern
air somewhat too severe for me."

"Your tenants, prince," Stephen remarked calmly, "would like to see a
little more of you."

The prince shrugged his shoulders. He was a man of medium height,
slender, with a long and almost colorless face. He carried himself with
the good-humored air of the man of the world among strange surroundings
toward which he desired to express his toleration. His clothes and voice
were perfectly English, although the latter was unusually slow and soft.
At first sight there was no apparent evidence of his foreign birth. He
turned once more toward Stephen.

"My agent, Mr. Simon, is a very excellent man, and I have every
confidence in his discretion. My tenants here could scarcely feel toward
me as they might have done if Raynham had come into my possession in the
direct line. However, this year, as it happens, I have made up my mind
to spend more time here. My keepers tell me that after four bad seasons
the prospects for grouse on my higher moors are excellent. I shall
hope," he added, turning to John, "to have you join us often. I must
confess that the only time I had ever heard your name, before the
newspapers advertised your recent good fortune, was in connection with
shooting. They tell me that you are the best shot and the finest
horseman in Cumberland."

"You were probably told that at Raynham," John remarked. "Our people