d better go myself first and prepare the way, Mem," Dickson
whispered, and followed the man across the hall.

He found himself ushered into a fair-sized room where a bright fire was
burning. On a table lay the remains of breakfast, and the odour of
food mingled pleasantly with the scent of peat. The horns and heads of
big game, foxes' masks, the model of a gigantic salmon, and several
bookcases adorned the walls, and books and maps were mixed with
decanters and cigar-boxes on the long sideboard. After the wild out of
doors the place seemed the very shrine of comfort. A young man sat in
an arm-chair by the fire with a leg on a stool; he was smoking a pipe,
and reading the Field, and on another stool at his elbow was a pile of
new novels. He was a pleasant brown-faced young man, with remarkably
smooth hair and a roving humorous eye.

"Come in, Mr. McCunn. Very glad to see you. If, as I take it, you're
the grocer, you're a household name in these parts. I get all my
supplies from you, and I've just been makin' inroads on one of your
divine hams. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I'm very proud to hear what you say, Sir Archibald. But I've not come
on business. I've come with the queerest story you ever heard in your
life and I've come to ask your help."

"Go ahead. A good story is just what I want this vile mornin'."

"I'm not here alone. I've a lady with me."

"God bless my soul! A lady!"

"Ay, a princess. She's in the next room."

The young man looked wildly at him and waved the book he had been
reading.

"Excuse me, Mr. McCunn, but are you quite sober? I beg your pardon. I
see you are. But you know, it isn't done. Princesses don't as a rule
come here after breakfast to pass the time of day. It's more absurd
than this shocker I've been readin'."

"All the same it's a fact. She'll tell you the story herself, and
you'll believe her quick enough. But to prepare your mind I'll just
give you a sketch of the events of the last few days."

Before the sketch was concluded the young man had violently rung the
bell. "Sime," he shouted to the servant, "clear away this mess and lay
the table again. Order more breakfast, all the breakfast you can get.
Open the windows and get the tobacco smoke out of the air. Tidy up the
place for there's a lady comin'. Quick, you juggins!"

He was on his feet now, and, with his arm in Dickson's, was heading for
the door.

"My sainted aunt! And you topped off with pot