the room behind,
preparing my tea.

"The Prince did not care to shoot to-day," Lady Angela explained, "and I
have been showing him the neighbourhood. Incidentally, I am dying for
some tea, and the Prince has smoked all his cigarettes."

The Prince raised his hand in polite expostulation, but he accepted a
cigarette with a little sigh of relief.

"You have found a very lonely spot for your dwelling-house, Mr.
Ducaine," he said. "You English are so fond of solitude."

"It suits me very well," I answered, "for just now I have a great deal
of work to do. I am safely away from all distractions here."

Lady Angela smiled at me.

"Not quite so safe perhaps, Mr. Ducaine, as you fondly imagined," she
remarked. "I am afraid that we disturbed you. You look awfully busy."

She glanced towards my writing-table. It was covered with papers, and a
map of the southern counties leaned up against the wall. The Prince
also was glancing curiously in the same direction.

"I have finished my work for the day," I said, rising. "If you will
permit me, I will put it away."

Grooton brought in tea. The Prince was politely curious as to the
subject matter of those closely written sheets of paper.

"You are perhaps interested in literature, Mr. Ducaine," he remarked.

"Immensely," I answered, waving my hand towards my bookshelves.

"But you yourself--you no doubt write?"

"Oh, one tries," I answered, pouring out the tea.

"It may be permitted then to wish you success," he remarked dryly.

"You are very good," I answered.

Lady Angela calmly interposed. The Prince ate buttered toast and drank
tea with a bland affectation of enjoyment. They rose almost immediately
afterwards.

"You are coming up to the house this evening, Mr. Ducaine?" Lady Angela
asked.

"I am due there now," I answered. "If you will allow me, I will walk
back with you."

The Prince touched my arm as Lady Angela passed out before us.

"I am anxious, Mr. Ducaine," he said, looking me in the face, "for a
few minutes' private conversation with you. I shall perhaps be
fortunate enough to find you at home to-morrow."

He did not wait for my answer, for Lady Angela looked back, and he
hastened to her side. He seemed in no hurry, however, to leave the
place. The evening was cloudy and unusually dark. A north wind was
tearing through the grove of stunted firs, and the roar of the incoming
sea filled the air with muffled thunder. The Prince looked about him
with a