"I appreciate all that you say and have considered destroying it, but have now come to the conclusion to keep it always with me, for, after all that you tell me, I think that I am in pretty safe hands in London."

"But think, my dear fellow," cried the Colonel jumping up, "what might happen if this thing falls into the hands of the Germans! To prevent that it would be my duty to shoot you on the spot."

"Good work! Right-o!" laughed Edestone. "You have my permission to shoot whenever it goes to the Germans. Don't worry. They'll not murder and rob me in the middle of dear old London with all your fellows about, and I do not expect to leave the hotel tonight."

CHAPTER XIV

THE ROYAL TEA-TABLE

As Edestone and Colonel Stewart were leaving the Palace, they were met by the young Prince of the Blood, who seemed bent upon renewing his acquaintance with his American friend.

"I say, Edestone," he greeted him, "you really must not leave before giving me an opportunity of presenting you to some of the ladies of the Court. You are the lion of the day and they are anxious to meet you. My sister, Princess Billy, is almost in tears and hysterical. She insisted upon seeing your pictures because she said that you were an old friend of hers she had met on the steamer coming over from America."

Accepting, Edestone smiled as he thought of the undignified manner of their meeting, and was taken in charge by the young man.

Colonel Stewart made his excuses when the invitation was extended to him, saying: "Mr. Edestone, I shall wait for you in the Guards' Room,"

and, turning to the young man, he added: "I deliver him into your hands, and I hold you responsible for his valuable person which must be delivered to me there."

Edestone was then taken in charge by the young Prince, who proudly bore him off to deliver him into the hands of the ladies. He was rather bored with the idea, and would have preferred to have gone directly to his hotel, as he had had an eventful day and he did not feel in the humour for the small talk of the tea-table.

He was taken into one of the smaller rooms where several ladies and young officers in khaki were just finishing their tea. The atmosphere of the room was offensively heavy with the strong odour of iodoform.

His pity was aroused when he suddenly realized that almost every man in the room bore the unmistakable mark of service in the trenches. It was the first time that he had been brought violently into contact with the far-reaching and horrible devastation of this cruel war. One pitiful figure, a young man of about twenty-two who sat apart from the rest, so affected him that he scarcely recovered himself in time to acknowledge the great kindness of the d.u.c.h.ess of Windthorst, who was receiving him in the most gracious manner. This boy was totally blind.

Edestone was filled with admiration for these descendants of the Norman conquerors, who in their gallantry and patriotism responded so quickly to the call of their country, while the miserable swine whose homes and families were being protected by these n.o.ble men were instigating strikes and riots under the leadership of a band of traitors who hid their cowardice behind labour organizations, or attempted to mislead the disgusted world by windy speeches on the subject of humanitarism into which position they were not followed by the very women that they were giving as their excuse for their treasonable acts.

The d.u.c.h.ess presented him to Princess Wilhelmina and the others. In the soft and rich voice of the Englishwoman of culture and refinement, which always charmed him, she said:

"Mr. Edestone, my daughter tells me that you came over on the _Ivernia_ with us."

"No, no, mamma!" interrupted the Princess, with a frown and nervous little laugh. "I said that Mrs. Brown said that she thought that Mr.

Edestone was on board."

The d.u.c.h.ess acknowledged this correction, and with the cool effrontery that only a woman can carry off to her entire satisfaction, she then pretended that this was the first time that she had ever laid eyes on him, when as a matter of fact she and the Princess had discussed this remarkable, independent individual, who had so quietly and alone occupied the large suite adjoining theirs.

"Do sit down, Mr. Edestone," she smiled, "and tell us about your wonderful electrical gun or ship. I really know so little about electricity that I could not understand what my daughter has just been telling me." And then, as if to save him from the great embarra.s.sment of speaking, which she felt that he must have in her presence, she hastened to continue: "I am really so sorry that I did not know you were a fellow-pa.s.senger or I should most certainly have had you presented. I am very fond of you Americans, I find them most charming and so original, you know."

Edestone bowed.

"I really became quite attached to your Mr. Bradley, who was on board.

I think you call him 'Diamond King John.' He was most attractive,"

and, with a charming smile, "he showed me his diamond suspender b.u.t.tons; and he dances beautifully, my daughter tells me. I understand that Mr. Bradley is one of your oldest Arizona families--or was it Virginia?--I am so stupid about the names of your different counties.

But I agree with him that family is not everything, and that clothes make the gentleman. He tells me that he gets all of his clothes from the same tailor as the Duke. Do you get your clothes in London, Mr.

Edestone?" And then, seeing an expression on Edestone's face which indicated to her that he was going to be bold enough to attempt to enter into the conversation, hastily added: "No, of course not, you would naturally get yours in New York, where Mr. Bradley tells me that the finish of the b.u.t.tonholes is much better on account of the enormous salaries that you very rich Americans are able to pay your tailors. No tea, Mr. Edestone? How foolish of me to ask! You would like to have one of those American drinks; what is it you call them?

c.o.c.kplumes? My son could make one for you. Madame La Princesse de Blanc taught him how to make one."

Edestone smilingly declined.

The d.u.c.h.ess, who by this time was beginning to feel that perhaps Mr.

Edestone would not insist upon taking off his coat or squatting Indian fashion on the floor, continued:

"My son tells me that it was at her house in Paris that he had the pleasure of making your acquaintance."

"Yes, d.u.c.h.ess," nodded Edestone.

"She is a most delightful little American," continued the d.u.c.h.ess. "So bright, natural, unconventional, and original. And she chews tobacco in the most fascinating manner."

Edestone all this time had been debating in his mind whether this silly prattle was the result of real ignorance, sn.o.bbishness, or kindness of heart. He gave her the benefit of the doubt, however, and, wishing to show her that she might put her mind at rest as to his ability to overcome any embarra.s.sment that he might have had, said with a perfectly solemn face:

"You should have asked your friend, Mr. Bradley, to show you his suspenders themselves, d.u.c.h.ess. They are, I am told, set with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds, and cost, I understand, $10,000."

"How very odd," said the d.u.c.h.ess.

"And I am sure," he continued, "that he feels as proud of having danced with the Princess as she could have been at having been the recipient of so much attention at the hands of 'King John,' who apparently is also a Prince Charming."

And then ignoring their pretence of having just seen him for the first time, in a most natural manner Edestone referred to the episodes of the crossing.

Turning to the Princess, who all this time had vainly endeavoured to check her mother, and changing his manner out of deference for her youth and inexperience, and a.s.suming a more humble demeanour, he continued:

"I sincerely hope, Princess, that I did not hurt you when I was forced to handle you so roughly, but it was blowing almost a hurricane."

"I forgive you, Mr. Edestone," she said with a charming smile, "for hurting my arm; but," with a little pout, "I don't think I can forgive you for hurting my feelings. Why did you not ask Mr. Bradley to present you? He said that he knew you very well."

"Oh, I was rather afraid," laughed Edestone, "to suggest this to him.

You know we do not move in exactly the same set, and I did not wish to give him an opportunity to snub me. Now that he does speak so familiarly of his royal friends, I thought that he might consider me a bit presumptuous."

"You don't mean to say," snorted the d.u.c.h.ess, "that that creature would dare to speak of me as a friend?"

"Well," said Edestone, "I shall do him the justice of saying that I am quite certain he would not if he did not believe that you were, and did not think that it was perfectly natural that you should be."

The Princess, who was looking at Edestone with an intense look, of which however she was absolutely unconscious, broke in impatiently:

"Oh, mamma, do stop talking about that dreadful man and ask Mr.

Edestone to tell us something about his wonderful work." A light came into her eyes which would have alarmed an American mother had she seen it in the eyes of her daughter at a mixed summer resort.

Edestone was anxious to get away as he took absolutely no interest in this particular phase of life; yet he did not wish to appear unappreciative of the great honour that had been conferred upon him by these ladies of such high rank. However, an opportunity soon presented itself which permitted him to retire, and he bowed himself out of the room, but not, it must be admitted, until he had answered a number of questions which the Princess insisted on putting to him. He did this with perfect deference, yet in such a businesslike way that she was convinced, should a year elapse before he next saw her, he would probably not recognize her.

CHAPTER XV

SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS

As Edestone left the Palace in company with Colonel Stewart, and the two took their seats in the waiting carriage, he was amused to see a troop of cavalry, which had been drawn up before the entrance, fall in about them as an escort. The men were all dressed in khaki, and, judging from their equipment, they were fixed for business more than a mere guard of honour. A smart, young officer rode up and, saluting the Colonel, asked: "Where to, sir?"