"Charlie is riding his own horse," Lady Grace answered.

"It is a shame," the Prince remarked, "that you should be disappointed, Lady Grace. Would they let me ride for you?"

"If I am eligible, and Lady Grace chooses, it seems to me very simple."

The surgeon, submitting to destiny with the worst possible grace, dropped the charming Englishwoman's hand, and returned to his duties in the kitchen.

"A hundred questions," cried Grace, "if you like." She looked at the expiring fire, and at the dimly visible figure of her companion seated in the obscurest corner of the room.

Grace's voice dropped when she answered the question.

``I crave your Grace's pardon,'' said Fitzurse, internally cursing the idle vanity of his patron;

``but when time pressed, and even the loss of minutes might be fatal, I judged it best to take this much burden upon me, in a matter of such importance to your Grace's interest.''

``Ay, but,'' said Waldemar, ``your sire Henry sate more firm in his seat than your Grace can.

"His Grace is by no means convinced that the police have failed."

Huxtable, that his Grace is particularly anxious to avoid all public scandal.

"I thank your Grace. For the purposes of my investigation, I think that it would be wiser for me to remain at the scene of the mystery."