"What would you have them do beyond going on when required and stopping
when expedient--and avoiding collisions?" he inquired.

"I should like them to break the omnibus up occasionally," she answered,
"and take a wrong turning sometimes, just to see if a little happiness
lay that way."

"Yes," he laughed. "You are a Pole and a Bukaty. I knew it as soon as I
saw you."

"One must do something. We were talking of such things last night, and
Monsieur Deulin said that his ideal combination in a man was an infinite
patience and a sudden premeditated recklessness."

"Now you have come down to a mere career again," said Cartoner.

"Not necessarily."

The prince came into the room again at this moment.

"What are you people discussing," he asked, "so gravely?"

He spoke in French, which was the language that was easiest to him, for
he had been young when it was the fashion in Poland to be French.

"I do not quite know," answered Cartoner, slowly. "The princess was
giving me her views."

"I know," retorted the old man, with his rather hollow laugh. "They are
long views, those views of hers."

Cartoner was still standing near the window. He turned absently and
looked out, down into the busy street. There he saw something which
caused him intense surprise, though he did not show it; for, like any
man of strong purpose, his face had but one expression, and that of
thoughtful attention. He saw Captain Cable, of the _Minnie_, crossing
the street, having just quitted the hotel. This was the business
acquaintance of Prince Bukaty's, who had come to speak of jettison.

Cartoner knew Captain Cable well, and his specialty in maritime skill.
He had seen war waged before now with material which had passed in and
out of the _Minnie's_ hatches.

The prince did not refer again to the affairs that had called him away.
The talk naturally turned to the house where they had first met, and
Wanda mentioned that her father and she were going to the reception
given by the Orlays that evening.

"You're going, of course?" said the prince.

"Yes, I am going."

"You go to many such entertainments?"

"No, I go to very few," replied Cartoner, looking at Wanda in his
speculative way.

Then he suddenly rose and took his leave, with a characteristic omission
of the usual "Well, I must be off," or any such catch-word. He certainly
left a great deal unsaid which this babbling world expects.

He walked along the crowded streets, absorbed