me with
well simulated surprise.

"You are soon back, Mr. Ducaine," he remarked calmly. "Did you forget
something?"

"I forgot," I answered, struggling to recover my breath, "to lock up my
desk."

"An admirable precaution," he admitted, watching as I gathered my papers
together, "especially if one has valuables. It is an exposed spot this,
and very lonely."

"I am curious," I said, leaning against the table and facing him, "I am
curious to know which of my poor possessions can possibly be of interest
or value to the Prince of Malors."

The calm hauteur of his answering stare was excellently done. I had a
glimpse now of the aristocrat.

"You speak in enigmas, young man," he said. "Kindly be more explicit."

"My language can scarcely be more enigmatic than your actions," I
answered. "I was fool enough to trust you and I left you here alone.
But you were not unobserved, Prince. My servant, I am thankful to say,
is faithful. It was he who summoned me back."

"Indeed!" he murmured.

"I might add," I continued, "that I took the liberty of looking in
through the side window there before entering."

"If it amused you to do so, or to set your servant to spy upon me," he
said, "I see no reason to object. But your meaning is still
unexplained."

"The onus of explanation," I declared, "appears to me to rest with you,
Prince. I offered the hospitality of my room, presumably to a
gentleman--not to a person who would seize that opportunity to examine
my private papers."

"You speak with assurance, Mr. Ducaine."

"The assurance of knowledge," I answered. "I saw you at my desk from
outside."

"You should consult an oculist," he declared. "I have not left this
chair. My foot is still too painful."

"You lie well, Prince," I answered, "but not well enough."

He looked at me thoughtfully.

"I am endeavouring," he said, "to accommodate myself to the customs of
this wonderful country of yours. In France one sends one's seconds.
What do you do here to a man who calls you a liar?"

"We treat him," I answered hotly, "as the man deserves to be treated who
abuses the hospitality of a stranger, and places himself in the position
of a common thief."

The Prince shrugged his shoulders lightly, and helped himself to one of
my cigarettes.

"You are very young, Mr. Ducaine," he said, looking at me thoughtfully.
"You have no doubt your career to make in the world. So, in a greater
sense of the word, have I. I propose, if yo