save my money
as much as possible. On the other side, wherever that may be, it will
have to be corduroys instead of tweeds, and (here he took his cigar-case
from his pocket and selected a weed) a clay pipe, I suppose, in place of
the mess' extra special Laranagas." The train was an express, stopping
only at Basingstoke and Eastleigh. At the latter place he alighted, and
taking a cab in the station yard bade the man drive him as quickly as
possible to Rendlehurst. It was nearly half-past six by the time he
reached the house, where Anton, the head of my father's household,
received him at the door.

"Anton," he said, "I must see my father and mother at once. Where are
they?"

"Her Majesty is in the boudoir," the old man replied, in measured tones
that contrasted forcibly with the other's excited state. "His Majesty
has but lately returned from a walk, and is now in his study. I will
acquaint him with your Royal Highness's arrival."

What transpired at that meeting is not set forth in the diary. It is
sufficient, however, that in something less than half an hour he had
said good-bye to them, though he did not know it, for ever, and was back
in his cab _en route_, so it was popularly supposed, for Eastleigh. At
the Foresham cross-roads he stopped the driver. "Pull up," he said. "It
is a beautiful evening, and as I have plenty of time, I think I will
walk the remainder of the distance." He paid his fare and, in order to
avert suspicion, strolled slowly along the road the cab was following.
When the man had turned the corner and was out of sight, he retraced his
steps and set off at a brisk pace in the opposite direction. The evening
was close and sultry, and signs of thunder were in the air. The roads
and hedges were white with dust, and by the time he had reached the
small station for which he was making, he was coated with a fine white
powder. Interrogating the station-master, whom he found upon the
platform, he inquired what time the next train was due for Salisbury.

"There is not one for nearly an hour, sir," the man replied. "It leaves
here at half-past eight and reaches Salisbury at 9.25."

"That's a pity," said Max, who saw that he would not be able to get on
to Bristol that night. "However, as it can't be helped, I must wait for
it. I am much obliged to you."

The station-master, as a matter of form, compared his watch with the
clock in the little waiting-room, then glanced up and down the line, and
finally d