xclaimed. "How dare you transform yourself into a tailor's dummy in
this fashion?"

"It was entirely out of respect to you," John said.

"In fact," the prince added, "we considered that we had achieved rather
a success."

"I suppose I must look upon your effort as a compliment," Louise sighed,
"but it seems queer to lose even so much of you. Shall you take up our
manners and our habits, Mr. Strangewey, as easily as you wear our
clothes?"

"That I cannot promise," he replied.

"The brain should adapt itself at least as readily as the body," the
prince remarked.

M. Graillot, who was one of the three men present, turned around.

"Who is talking platitudes?" he demanded. "I write plays, and that is my
monopoly. Ah, it is the prince, I see! And our young friend who
interrupted us at rehearsal yesterday."

"And whom I am anxious to have you meet again," Louise intervened. "You
remember his name, perhaps--Mr. John Strangewey."

Graillot held out his left hand to the prince and his right to John.

"Mr. Strangewey," he said, "I congratulate you! Any person who has the
good fortune to interest Miss Maurel is to be congratulated. Yet must I
look at you and feel myself puzzled. You are not an artist--no? You do
not paint or write?"

John shook his head.

"Mr. Strangewey's claim to distinction is that he is just an ordinary
man," Louise observed. "Such a relief, you know, after all you clever
people! And that reminds me, Miles," she added, turning to the actor, "I
asked you here, too, especially to meet Mr. Strangewey again. Mr.
Faraday is one of the most dangerous guides in London a young man could
have. He knows everybody and everything unknowable and yet worth
knowing. I present him to you as a hero. He is going to make love to me
three hours a night for very many nights, we hope."

John shook hands with everybody and sipped the contents of the glass
which had been handed to him. Then a butler opened the door and
announced luncheon. Louise offered her hand to the prince, who stepped
back.

"It shall be the privilege of the stranger within our gates," he
decided.

Louise turned to John with a little smile.

"Let me show you, then, the way to my dining room. I ought to apologize
for not asking some women to meet you. I tried two on the telephone, but
they were engaged."

"I will restore the balance," the prince promised, turning from the
contemplation of one of the prints hanging in the hall. "I am giving a