The Prince broke open a big box of choice "Petroffs," selected one, lit
it slowly, and walked pensively to the window.
He was in a good mood that morning, for he had just got rid of a
troublesome visitor.
The big _salon_ was elegantly furnished with long mirrors, gilt chairs
covered with sky-blue silk upholstery, a piano, and a pretty
writing-table set close to the long window, which led out to a balcony
shaded by a red-and-white sun-blind--the _salon_ of the best suite in
the Majestic, that huge hotel facing the sea in King's Road, Brighton.
He was a tall, well-set-up man of about thirty-three; dark-haired,
good-looking, easy-going, and refined, who, for the exception of the
slightest trace of foreign accent in his speech, might easily have been
mistaken for an Englishman. In his well-cut dark brown flannels and
brown shoes he went to the balcony, and, leaning over, gazed down upon
the sun-lit promenade, full of life and movement below.
His arrival a few days before had caused quite a flutter in the big
hotel. He had not noticed it, of course, being too used to it. He
travelled a great deal--indeed, he was always travelling nowadays--and
had learned to treat the constant endeavours of unknown persons to
scrape acquaintance with him with the utter disregard they deserved.
Not often did the Majestic, so freely patronised by the stockbroker and
the newly-rich, hold as guest any person equalling the Prince in social
distinction, yet at the same time so modest and retiring. The blatant
persons overcrowding the hotel that August Sunday, those pompous,
red-faced men in summer clothes and white boots, and those over-dressed
women in cream silk blouses and golden chatelaines, mostly denizens of
Kensington or Regent's Park, had been surprised when an hour ago he had
walked along the hall and gone outside to speak with his chauffeur. He
was so very good-looking, such a sportsman, and so very English they
whispered. And half of those City men's wives were instantly dying for
an opportunity of speaking with him, so that they could return to their
suburban friends and tell of their acquaintance with the cousin of his
Imperial Majesty the Kaiser.
But Prince Albert of Hesse-Holstein was thinking of other things. He
had no use for that over-fed Sunday crowd, with their slang chatter,
their motor-cars and their gossip of "bithneth," through which he had
just passed. He drew half a dozen times at his yellow Russian
cigarette, tossed it away, and lit another.
He was thinking of his visitor who had just left, and--well, there
remained a nasty taste in his mouth. The man had told him something--
something that was not exactly pleasant. Anyhow, he had got rid of him.
So Prince Albert Ernst Karl Wilhelm, head of the great house of
Hesse-Holstein, grand-cross of the Orders of the Black Eagle, Saint Sava
and the Elephant, and Commander of St Hubert and of the Crown of Italy,
returned again to the balcony, smoked on, and watched.
In the meantime, in the big hall below, sat a well-dressed elderly lady
with her daughter, a pretty, fair-haired, blue-eyed girl of twenty, a
dainty figure in white, who wore a jade bangle upon her left wrist.
They were Americans on a tour with "poppa" through Europe. Mr Robert
K. Jesup, of Goldfields, Nevada, had gone to pay a pilgrimage to
Stratford-on-Avon, while his wife and daughter were awaiting him in
Brighton.
With the inquisitiveness of the American girl Mary Jesup had obtained
the "Almanach de Gotha" from the reading-room, and both mother and
daughter were, with difficulty, translating into English the following
notice of the Prince's family which they found within the little
red-covered book:
"Evangeliques--Souche: Widukind III, comte de Schwalenberg (principaute
de Holstein), 1116-1137; bailli a Arolsen et acquisition du chateau de
Hesse vers, 1150; Comte du Saint Empire de Hesse, 1349, dignite
confirme, 22 juin, 1548; bailli de Wildungen, 1475; acquisition
d'Eisenberg (chateau fort, aujourd'hui en ruines, situe sur la montagne
du meme nom) vers, 1485; acquisition par heritage du comte de Pyrmont,
1631; coll. du titre de `Hoch et Wohlgeboren,' Vienne, 25 fevr., 1627;
pretention a l'heritage du comte de Rappolstein (Ribeaupierre
Haute-Alsace) et des seigneuries de Hohenack et de Geroldseck (ibidem)
par suite du mariage (2 juill, 1658) du cte Chretien-Louis, ne 29 juill,
1635, + 12 dec. 1706, avec Elisabeth de Rappolstein, nee 7 Mars, 1644, +
6 dec. 1676, apres la mort de son oncle Jean-Jacques dernier comte de
Rappolstein, 28 juill, 1673; les lignes ci-dessus descendent de deux
fils (freres consaiguins) du susdit Chretien-Louis comte de
Hesse-Eisenberg, de Pyrmont et Rappolstein, etc.--V. L'edition de 1832
(Page 84)."
"There, mother!" exclaimed the pretty girl. "Why, they were an ancient
family even before America was discovered! Isn't he real nice? Say! I
only wish we knew him."
"Ah, my dear," replied the elder woman with a sigh. "Those kind of
people never know us. He's a royalty."
"But he looks such a nice man. What a lovely car he's got--real fine!
I've been out to see it. How I wish he'd take us for a ride."
"You'd better ask him, my dear," laughed her mother.
"Guess I shouldn't be backward. I believe he would in a moment, if I
asked him very nicely," she exclaimed, laughing in chorus. Truth to
tell, she had admired him when she had first encountered him two days
ago. She had been seated in one of those wicker chairs outside the door
in King's Road, when he had come out and taken the chair next to hers,
awaiting his car--a big sixty "Mercedes" painted cream, with the
princely arms and crown upon its panels.
He was talking in English to his man, who had carried out his
motor-coat. He was a prince--one of the wealthiest of all the German
princes, a keen automobilist, a sportsman who had hunted big game in
German East Africa, a landlord who owned a principality with half a
dozen mediaeval castles and some of the finest estates in the German
Empire, and one of the Kaiser's most intimate relatives. And yet he was
travelling with only his man and his motor-car.
Though Mary Jesup was heiress to the two millions sterling which her
father had made during the past three years--as half the people in the
hotel knew--yet she was aware that even her father's wealth could not
purchase for her the title of Princess of Hesse-Holstein. She was a
very charming girl, bright, athletic and go-ahead--a typical American
girl of to-day--and as she strolled out along the pier with her mother,
her thoughts constantly reverted to the young man in brown who had given
her more than one glance when he had passed.
Meanwhile, there had entered to the Prince his faithful valet Charles, a
tall, thin, clean-shaven Englishman, some four years his senior.
"Well?" asked his Highness sharply casting himself into an easy-chair,
and taking another "Petroff."
"Got rid of him--eh?"
"Yes--but it was difficult. I gave him a couple of sovereigns, and made
an appointment to meet him in the bar of the Cecil, in London, next
Thursday at four."
"Good. That gives us time," remarked the Prince with a sigh of relief.
"And about the girl? What have you found out?"
"She and her mother dined in the _table-d'hote_ room last night, and
took coffee afterwards in the Palm Court. The father is the man who
owns the gold-mines in Nevada--worth ten million dollars. Last year he
gave half a million dollars to charity, and bought the Bourbon pearls
for his wife. Gave eighty thousand pounds for them. She's got them
here, a long string twice round her neck and reaches to her waist.
She's wearing them to-day, and everybody, of course, thinks they're
false."
"How foolish these American women are! Fancy wearing pearls of that
price in the open street! Why, she might easily be robbed," his master
remarked.
"But who'd believe they're genuine? They're too big to take a thiefs
fancy," replied the faithful Charles. "The Jesups seem fond of
jewellery. Miss Mary has a lovely diamond necklet--"
"And wore it last night, I suppose?"
"Of course. They are newly-rich people, and crowd it all on. Yet, what
does it matter? Men like Jesup can easily buy more if they lose it.
Why, to have her jewels stolen is only a big advertisement for the
American woman. Haven't you seen cases in the paper--mostly at Newport
they seem to occur."
"The girl is pretty--distinctly pretty, Charles," remarked the Prince
slowly, with a philosophic air.
"Yes, your Highness. And she'd esteem it a great honour if you spoke to
her, I'm sure."
Prince Albert pursed his lips.
"I think not. These American girls have a good deal of spirit. She'd
most probably snub me."
"I think not. I passed through the hall five minutes ago, and she was
looking you up in the `Almanach de Gotha.'"
His Highness started.
"Was she?" he cried with quick interest. "Then she evidently knows all
about me by this time! I wonder--" and he paused without concluding his
sentence.
Charles saw that his master was thinking deeply, so he busied himself by
putting some papers in order.
"She's uncommonly pretty," his Highness declared presently. "But dare I
speak to her, Charles? You know what these Americans are."
"By all means speak to her. The mother and daughter would be company
for you for a few days. You could invite them to go motoring, and
they'd no doubt accept," the man suggested.
"I don't want the same experience that we had in Vichy, you know."
"Oh, never fear. These people are quite possible. Their wealth hasn't
spoilt them--as far as I can hear."
"Very well, Charles." The Prince laughed, tossing his cigarette-end
into the grate, and rising. "I'll make some excuse to speak with them."
And Charles, on his part, entertained shrewd suspicions that his master,
confirmed bachelor that he was, had, at last, been attracted by a girl's
fresh, fair beauty, and that girl an American.
Time hung heavily upon the Prince's hands. That afternoon he ran over
in his car to Worthing, where he dined at Warne's, and the evening he
spent in lonely state in a box at the Brighton Alhambra. Truth to tell,
he found himself thinking always of the sweet-faced, rather saucy
American girl, whose waist was so neat, whose tiny shoes were so
pointed, and whose fair hair was always drawn straight back from her
intelligent brow.
Yes. He felt he must know her. The morrow came, and with it an
opportunity occurred to speak with her mother.
They were sitting, as it is usual to sit, at the door of the hotel, when
a mishap to a dog-cart driven by a well-known actress gave him the
desired opportunity, and ten minutes later he had the satisfaction of
bowing before Mary Jesup herself.
He strolled with them on to the Pier, chatting so very affably that both
mother and daughter could hardly believe that he was the cousin of an
Emperor. Then, at his request to be allowed to join them at their table
at luncheon, they had their midday meal together.
The girl in white was altogether charming, and so unlike the
milk-and-water misses of Germany, or the shy, dark-eyed minxes of France
or Italy, so many of whom had designed to become Princess of
Hesse-Holstein. Her frank open manner, her slight American twang, and
her Americanisms he found all delightful. Mrs Jesup, too, was a
sensible woman, although this being the first occasion that either
mother or daughter had even met a prince, they used "Your Highness" a
trifle too frequently.
Nevertheless, he found this companionship of both women most charming.
"What a splendid motor-car you have!" Mary remarked when, after
luncheon, they were taking their coffee in the Palm Court at the back of
the hotel.
"I'm very fond of motoring, Miss Jesup. Are you?" was his Highness's
reply.
"I love it. Poppa's got a car. We brought it over with us and ran
around France in it. We left it in Paris till we get back to the
Continent in the fall. Then we do Italy," she said.
"Perhaps you would like to have a run with me and your mother
to-morrow," the Prince suggested. "It's quite pretty about the
neighbourhood."
"I'm sure you're very kind, Prince," responded the elder woman. "We
should be charmed. And further, I guess my husband'll be most delighted
to meet you when he gets down here. He's been in Germany a lot."
"I shall be very pleased to meet Mr Jesup," the young patrician
responded. "Till he comes, there's no reason why we should not have a
few runs--that is, if you're agreeable."
"Oh! it'll be real lovely!" declared Mary, her pretty face brightening
in anticipation of the pleasure of motoring with the man she so admired.
"Then what about running over to Eastbourne to tea to-day?" he
suggested.
Mother and daughter exchanged glances. "Well," replied Mrs Jesup, "we
don't wish to put you out in the least, Prince. I'm sure--"
"Good! You'll both come. I'll order the car for three o'clock."
The Prince ascended the stairs much gratified. He had made a very
creditable commencement. The hundred or so of other girls of various
nations who had been presented to him with matrimonial intent could not
compare with her, either for beauty, for charm, or for intelligence.
It was a pity, he reflected, that she was not of royal, or even noble
birth.
Charles helped him on with a light motor-coat, and, as he did so, asked:
"If the Parson calls, what am I to say?"
"Say what you like, only send him back to London. Tell him he is better
off in Bayswater than in Brighton. He'll understand."
"He may want some money. He wrote to you yesterday, remember."
"Then give him fifty pounds, and tell him that when I want to see him
I'll wire. I want to be alone just now, Charles," he added a trifle
impatiently. "You've got the key of my despatch-box, eh?"
"Yes, your Highness."
Below, he found the big cream-coloured car in waiting. Some of the
guests were admiring it, for it had an extra long wheelbase and a big
touring body and hood--a car that was the last word in all that was
comfort in automobilism.
The English chauffeur, Garrett, in drab livery faced with scarlet, and
with the princely cipher and crown upon his buttons, raised his hat on
the appearance of his master. And again when a moment later the two
ladies, in smart motor-coats, white caps, and champagne-coloured veils,
emerged and entered the car, being covered carefully by the fine
otter-skin rug.
The bystanders at the door of the hotel regarded mother and daughter
with envy, especially when the Prince got in at the girl's side, and,
with a light laugh, gave the order to start.
A few moments later they were gliding along the King's Road eastward, in
the direction of Lewes and Eastbourne.
"You motor a great deal, I suppose?" she asked him, as they turned the
corner by the Aquarium.
"A good deal. It helps to pass the time away, you know," he laughed.
"When I have no guests I usually drive myself. Quite recently I've been
making a tour up in Scotland."
"We're going up there this autumn. To the Trossachs. They say they're
fine! And we're going to see Scott's country, and Edinburgh. I'm dying
to see Melrose Abbey. It must be lovely from the pictures."
"You ought to get your father to have his car over," the Prince
suggested. "It's a magnificent run up north from London."
The millionaire's wife was carefully examining the Prince with covert
glances. His Highness was unaware that the maternal gaze was so
searching, otherwise he would probably have acted somewhat differently.
A splendid run brought them to Lewes, the old-world Sussex capital.
There, with a long blast of the electric siren, they shot down the hill
and out again upon the Eastbourne Road, never pulling up until they were
in the small garden before the Queen's.
Mary Jesup stepped out, full of girlish enthusiasm. Her only regret was
that the people idling in the hall of the hotel could not be told that
their companion was a real live Prince.
They took tea under an awning overlooking the sea, and his Highness was
particularly gracious towards Mrs Jesup, until both mother and daughter
were filled with delight at his pleasant companionship. He treated both
women as equals; his manner, as they afterwards put it, being devoid of
any side, and yet he was every inch a prince.
That run was the first of many they had together.
Robert K. Jesup had been suddenly summoned by cable to Paris on
business connected with his mining interests, therefore his wife and
daughter remained in Brighton. And on account of their presence the
Prince lingered there through another fortnight. Mostly he spent his
days walking or motoring with Mrs Jesup and her daughter, and
sometimes--on very rare occasions--he contrived to walk with Mary alone.
One morning, when he had been with her along the pier listening to the
band, he returned to luncheon to find in his own room a rather tall,
clean-shaven, middle-aged clergyman, whose round face and ruddy
complexion gave him rather the air of a _bon vivant_.
Sight of his unexpected visitor caused the Prince to hold his breath for
a second. It was the Parson.
"Sorry I was out," his Highness exclaimed. "Charles told you where I
was, I suppose?"
"Yes, Prince," replied the cleric. "I helped myself to a whisky and
soda. Hope you won't mind. It was a nice morning in town, so I thought
I'd run down to see you."
"You want another fifty, I suppose--eh?" asked his Highness sharply.
"Some other work of charity--eh?"
"My dear Prince, you've guessed it at once. You are, indeed, very
good."
His Highness rang the bell, and when the valet appeared, gave him orders
to go and get fifty pounds, which he handed to the clergyman.
Then the pair had luncheon brought up to the room, and as they sat
together their conversation was mostly about mutual friends. For a
cleric the Reverend Thomas Clayton was an extremely easy-going man, a
thorough sportsman of a type now alas! dying out in England.
It was plain to see that they were old friends, and plainer still when,
on parting a couple of hours later, the Prince said:
"When I leave here, old fellow, you'll join me for a little, won't you?
Don't worry me any more at present for your Confounded--er charities--
will you? Fresh air for the children, and whisky for yourself--eh? By
Jove, if I hadn't been a Prince, I'd have liked to have been a parson!
Good-bye, old fellow." And the rubicund cleric shook his friend's hand
heartily and went down the broad staircase.
The instant his visitor had gone he called Charles and asked excitedly:
"Did any one know the Parson came to see me?"
"No, your Highness. I fortunately met him in King's Road, and brought
him up here. He never inquired at the office."
"He's a fool! He could easily have written," cried the Prince eagerly.
"Where are those women, I wonder?" he asked, indicating Mrs Jesup and
her daughter.
"I told them you would be engaged all the afternoon."
"Good. I shan't go out again to-day, Charles. I want to think. Go to
them with my compliments, and say that if they would like to use the car
for a run this afternoon they are very welcome. You know what to say.
And--and see that a bouquet of roses is sent up to the young lady's room
before she goes to dress. Put one of my cards on it."
"Yes, your Highness," replied the valet, and turning, left his master to
himself.
The visit of the Reverend Thomas Clayton had, in some way, perturbed and
annoyed him. And yet their meeting had been fraught by a marked
cordiality.
Presently he flung himself into a big armchair, and lighting one of his
choice "Petroffs" which he specially imported, sat ruminating.
"Ah! If I were not a Prince!" he exclaimed aloud to himself. "I could
do it--do it quite easily. But it's my confounded social position that
prevents so much. And yet--yet I must tell her. It's imperative. I
must contrive somehow or other to evade that steely maternal eye. I
wonder if the mother has any suspicion--whether--?"
But he replaced his cigarette between his lips without completing the
expression of his doubts.
As the sunlight began to mellow, he still sat alone, thinking deeply.
Then he moved to go and dress, having resolved to dine in the public
restaurant with his American friends. Just then Charles opened the
door, ushering in a rather pale-faced, clean-shaven man in dark grey
tweeds. He entered with a jaunty air and was somewhat arrogant of
manner, as he strode across the room.
The Prince's greeting was greatly the reverse of cordial.
"What brings you here, Max?" he inquired sharply. "Didn't I telegraph
to you only this morning?"
"Yes. But I wanted a breath of sea-air, so came down. I want to know
if you're going to keep the appointment next Monday--or not."
"I can't tell yet."
"Hylda is anxious to know. You promised her, remember."
"I know. But apologise, and say that--well, I have some private
business here. You know what to say, Max. And I may want you down here
in a hurry. Come at once if I wire."
The man looked him straight in the face for a few moments.
"Oh!" he ejaculated, and then without being invited, crossed and took a
cigarette.
"Charles," said the visitor to the valet who had remained in the room,
"give me a drink. Let me wish success to matrimony." And with a
knowing laugh he tossed off the whisky and soda handed to him. For half
an hour he remained chatting confidentially with the Prince, then he
left, saying that he should dine alone at the Old Ship, and return to
London at ten.
When Max Mason had gone, Prince Albert heaved a long sigh, and passed
into the adjoining room to dress.
That night proved a momentous one in his Highness's life, for after
dinner Mrs Jesup complained of a bad headache, and retiring at once to
her room, left the young people together. What more natural, therefore,
than that his Highness should invite Mary to put on her wrap and go for
a stroll along the promenade in the moonlight. She accepted the
invitation eagerly, and went up to her mother's room.
"I'm going for a walk with him, mother," she cried excitedly as she
burst into the room where Mrs Jesup, with all traces of headache gone,
was lazily reading a novel.
"That's real good. Put on something thick, child, for its chilly," was
the maternal reply. "And, remember, you don't go flirting with Princes
very often."
"No, mother, but just leave him to me. I've been thinking over what you
say, and I mean to be Princess of Hesse-Holstein before the year's out.
Or else--"
"Or else there'll be trouble--eh?" laughed her mother.
But the girl had disappeared to join the man who loved her, and who was
waiting below.
In the bright August moonlight they strolled together as far as Hove,
where they sat upon a seat outside the Lawns. The evening was perfect,
and there were many passers-by, mostly couples more or less amatory.
Never had a girl so attracted him as had Mary that calm and glorious
night. Never had he looked into a woman's eyes and seen there love
reflected as in hers. They rose and strolled back again, back to the
pier which they traversed to its head. There they found a seat
unoccupied, and rested upon it.
And there, taking her little hand tenderly in his, he blurted forth, in
the blundering words of a blundering man, the story of his affection.
She heard him in silence to the end.
"I--I think, Prince, you have not fully considered what all this means.
What--"
"It means, Mary, that I love you--love you deeply and devotedly as no
other man has ever loved a woman! I am not given to ecstasies over
affection, for I long ago thought every spark of it was dead within my
heart. I repeat, however, that I love you." And ere she could prevent
him, he had raised her hand and pressed it to his lips.
She tried to withdraw it, but he held it firmly. The moon shone full
upon her sweet face, and he noticed how pale and beautiful she looked.
She gave him one glance, and in that instant he saw the light of unshed
tears. But she was silent, and her silence puzzled him.
"Ah!" he sighed despondently. "Am I correct, then, in suspecting that
you already have a lover?"
"A lover? Whom do you mean?"
"That tall, fair-haired, mysterious man who, during the past week, has
been so interested in your movements. Have you not noticed him? He's
staying at the hotel. I've seen him twenty times at least, and it is
only too apparent that he admires you."
"I've never even seen him," she exclaimed in surprise. "You must point
him out to me. I don't like mysterious men."
"I'm not mysterious, am I?" asked the Prince, laughing, and again
raising her hand to his lips tenderly. "Will you not answer my
question? Do you think you can love me sufficiently--sufficiently to
become my wife?"
"But--but all this is so sudden, Prince. I--I--"
"Can you love me?" he interrupted.
For answer she bent her head. Next moment his lips met hers in a hot
passionate caress. And thus did their hearts beat in unison.
Before they rose from the seat Mary Jesup had promised to become
Princess of Hesse-Holstein.
Next morning, the happy girl told her mother the gratifying news, and
when Mrs Jesup entered the Prince's private _salon_ his Highness asked
her, at least for the present, to keep their engagement secret.
That day the Prince was occupied by a quantity of correspondence, but
the future Princess, after a tender kiss upon her white brow, went out
in the car with her mother as far as Bognor. Two hours later the Prince
sent a telegram to the Rev Thomas Clayton, despatched Charles
post-haste to London by the Pullman express, and then went out for a
stroll along King's Road.
He was one of the happiest men in all the world.
Not until dinner did he again meet Mrs Jesup and her daughter. After
describing what an excellent run they had had, the millionaire's wife
said:
"Oh, Mary has been telling me something about a mysterious fair-haired
man whom you say has been watching her."
"Yes," replied his Highness. "He's been hanging about for some days. I
fancy he's no good--one of those fellows who live in hotels on the
look-out for pigeons."
"What we call in America a crook--eh?"
"Exactly. At least that's my opinion," he declared in confidence.
Mrs Jesup and her daughter appeared both very uneasy, a circumstance
which the Prince did not fail to notice. They went up to his _salon_
where they had coffee, and then retired early.
Half an hour later, while his Highness was lazily enjoying one of his
brown "Petroffs," the millionaire's wife, with blanched face, burst into
the room crying:
"Prince! Oh, Prince! The whole of my jewels and Mary's have been
stolen! Both cases have been broken open and the contents gone! My
pearls too! What shall we do?" His Highness started to his feet
astounded. "Do? Why find that fair-haired man!" he replied. "I'll go
at once to the manager." He sped downstairs, and all was quickly in
confusion. The manager recollected the man, who had given the name of
Mason, and who had left suddenly on the previous morning. The police
were telephoned for, and over the wires to London news of the great
jewel robbery was flashed to New Scotland Yard.
There was little sleep for either of the trio that night. Examination
showed that whoever the thief was, he had either been in possession of
the keys of the ladies' trunks, wherein were the jewel-cases, or had
obtained impressions of them, for after the jewels had been abstracted
the trunks had been relocked.
The Prince was very active, while the two ladies and their maid were in
utter despair. Their only consolation was that, though Mary had lost
her diamonds, she had gained a husband.
About noon on the following day, while his Highness was reading the
paper as he lolled lazily in the depths of the big armchair, a tap came
at the door and a waiter ushered in a thin, spare, grey-faced,
grey-bearded man.
The Prince sprang to his feet as though he had received an electric
shock.
The two men faced each other, both utterly dumbfounded.
"Wal!" ejaculated the visitor at last, when he found tongue. "If this
don't beat hog-stickin'! Say, young Tentoes, do you know I'm Robert K.
Jesup?"
"You--Jesup! My dear Uncle Jim!" gasped the other. "What does this
mean?"
"Yes. Things in New York over that little poker job are a bit hot just
now, so Lil and the old Lady are working the matrimonial trick this
side--a spoony jay, secret engagement, and blackmail. Worked it in
Paris two years ago. Great success! Done neatly, it's real good. I
thought they'd got hold of a real live prince this time--and rushed
right here to find it's only you! They ought really to be more
careful!"
"And I tell you, uncle, I too have been completely deceived. I thought
I'd got a soft thing--those Bourbon pearls, you know? They left their
keys about, I got casts, and when they were out bagged the boodle."
"Wal, my boy, you'd better cough 'em up right away," urged the old
American criminal, whose name was Ford, and who was known to his
associates as "Uncle Jim."
"I suppose the Parson's in it, as usual--eh? Say! the whole lot of
sparklers aren't worth fifty dollars, but the old woman and the girl
look well in 'em. My! ain't we all been taken in finely! Order me a
cocktail to take the taste away. Guess Lil'll want to twist your
rubber-neck when she sees you, so you'd better get into that famous car
of yours and make yourself scarce, young man!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The _Sussex Daily News_ next morning contained the following
announcement:
"His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Hesse-Holstein has left Brighton
for the Continent."