I have met in our own circle of society."

The Princess smiled tolerantly.

"Nowadays," she remarked, "it is perfectly true that men do take too
great liberties. Well, amuse yourself with your fisherman, my dear
child. It is your legitimate occupation in life to make fools of all
manner of men, and there is no harm in your beginning as low down as
you choose if it amuses you."

Jeanne walked deliberately away. The Princess laughed a little
uneasily. As she watched Jeanne ascend the stairs, Forrest and Cecil
came out into the hall. They all three moved together into the further
corner, where coffee was set out upon a small table, and it was
significant that they did not speak a word until they were there, and
even then Major Forrest looked cautiously around before he opened his
lips.

"Well?" he asked.

The Princess smiled scornfully at their white, anxious faces.

"What are you afraid of?" she asked contemptuously. "Jeanne suspects
nothing, of course. There is nothing which she could suspect. She has
not mentioned his name even."

Cecil drew a little breath of relief. His face seemed to have grown
haggard during the last few hours.

"I wish to God," he muttered, "we were out of this!"

The Princess turned her head and looked at him coldly.

"My young friend," she said, "you men are all the same. You have no
philosophy. The inevitable has happened, or rather the inevitable has
been forced upon us. What we have done we did deliberately. We could
not do otherwise, and we cannot undo it. Remember that. And if you have
a grain of philosophy or courage in you, keep a stouter heart and wear
a smile upon your face."

Cecil rose to his feet.

"You are right," he said. "Are you ready, Forrest? Will you come with
me?"

Forrest rose slowly to his feet.

"Of course," he said. "By the by, a sail this afternoon was a good
idea. We must develop an interest in country pursuits. It is possible
even," he added, "that we may have to take to golf."

The Princess, too, rose.

"Come into my room, one of you," she said, "and see me for a moment,
afterwards. I suppose we shall start for our sail about three?"

Cecil nodded.

"The boat will be here by then," he said.

"And I will come up and bring you the news, if there is any," Forrest
added.

CHAPTER XII

The man who stood with a telescope glued to his eye watching the coming
boat, shut it up at last with a little snap. He walked round to the
other side of