of Europe have I seen so many beautiful women gathered together at one
time as in the foggy metropolis of England. At the risk of being
considered conceited, I must admit their kindness to myself. A heart
less susceptible to their fascinations could not have failed to have
been broken a dozen times in each successive season. As for me, I gave
in at once without a struggle, and did not utter even a cry for mercy.

"It's a good thing for you that your position protects you," said one of
our majors one afternoon as we drove home together from Hurlingham. "Had
it been otherwise, you would have been caught long since."

A certain young unmarried American had been present that afternoon, and
I am not going to say that there had not been some excuse for his
admonition. At the same time I would not admit that he was right. To
have done so would have been to deprive myself of a considerable amount
of pleasure in the future.

"My dear fellow," I answered, "when Providence vouchsafes one such
opportunities, it would be scarcely respectable on a mere mortal's part
to neglect them. Miss Gedge was kind enough this afternoon to tell me
that she '_just fairly adored princes_,' and after an invitation of that
description what could one do but make oneself as agreeable as possible?
Put yourself in my place and see what you would do!"

"Not if I know it," he replied. "I would not run such a risk for the
world."

Favoured though I had been, I was happy enough, so far, not to have been
smitten by the Bow Boy's dart, and with this little explanation I will
proceed to narrate the incident to which it is the prelude.

The week in question had been an exceptionally busy one. We had had a
field day at Wormwood Scrubs on Monday, a regimental polo match at
Hurlingham on Tuesday, a mess dinner given to the Hereditary Prince of
Liedenvald on Wednesday, while on Thursday there was a garden party at
Marlborough House, a state dinner at Buckingham Palace, and dances at no
less than four houses afterwards. When I opened my eyes in the morning,
it was with the feeling that I had a vast amount of work to get through
before I should be able to close them again. How little I imagined the
variety of emotions to which I was to be subjected before that event
could take place! That afternoon, at the last moment, I was detained at
the barracks for some little time; in consequence, it was considerably
past four o'clock before I entered the gates of Marlbor