e that," she said carelessly. "You are so
good at card tricks that you should be able to get an ace when you want
it. I always cut third from the end, as you know."

"That's all very well," Forrest answered, "but we can't go on cutting
two aces all the time. I ran it pretty fine last night, when for the
second time I gave you a three or a four, and drew a two myself. But he
seems to have the devil's own luck. They cut under us, as you know."

The Princess looked up toward the house. She had seen Jeanne and Cecil
appear.

"Those people are back from their underground pilgrimage," she
remarked. "Have you anything definite to suggest? If not, we had better
go in."

"There is only one way, Ena," Forrest said, "in which we could improve
matters."

"And what is that?" she asked quickly.

"Don't you think we could get our host in?"

The Princess was silent for several moments.

"It is a little dangerous, I am afraid," she said.

"I don't see why," Forrest answered. "If he were once in he'd have to
hold his tongue, and you can do just what you like with him. He seems
to me to be just one of those pulpy sort of persons whom you could
persuade into a thing before he had had time to think about it."

"I will drop him a hint if you like," the Princess said thoughtfully,
"and see how he takes it. Are you sure that the game is worth the
candle?"

"Absolutely," Forrest answered eagerly. "I saw Engleton drop two
thousand playing baccarat one night, and he never turned a hair. I
wasn't playing, worse luck."

"If I can get Cecil alone before dinner," the Princess said, "I will
sound him. I think we had better go back now. We are a little old for
romantic wanderings, and the wind is beginning to disarrange my hair."

"See what you can do with him, then," Forrest said, as they retraced
their steps. "I'll call in and hear if you've anything to tell me on my
way down for dinner."

The Princess nodded. They entered the hall, and Cecil at once drew an
easy-chair to the tea-table.

"My good people," the Princess declared, "I am famished. Your sea air,
Cecil, is the most wonderful thing in the world. For years I have not
known what it was like to be hungry. Hot cakes, please! And, Jeanne,
please make my tea. Jeanne knows just how I like it. Tell us about the
smuggler's cave, Jeanne. Was it really so wonderful?"

Jeanne laughed.

"It was very, very weird and very smelly," she said. "I think that you
were wise to turn back."