"How know, you it's not?" demanded her sister, in some wonder. "You never saw him did you?"

"No; but I've seen the one we've been taking for him--the shining peac.o.c.k, as you call him. So have you."

"Who is he, then?"

"Prince Rupert!"

"So it is, indeed! And the other--"

"Reginald Trevor!"

By this the two hors.e.m.e.n were so near, there was no opportunity for the sisters to exchange further speech, save in undertone; Sabrina, as a last word of caution, whispering,--

"We are helpless, and must play a part I've thought of it; will tell you when we're alone. So be more than civil; very polite."

"I will try."

Rupert, a little in the advance, was now up; and suddenly checked his charger to a halt, in such wise as to present the att.i.tude of Mercury just alighted on a "heaven-kissing hill."

"Fair ladies?" he said. "I have not the pleasure of knowing you. But this gentleman, who has, if you object not, will do me the honour of an introduction."

"His Royal Highness, Prince Rupert," announced Trevor, after saluting on his own account, somewhat awkwardly.

The "fair ladies" acknowledged the introduction with a bow; even smilingly, which was more than might have been expected. They said nothing, however, leaving the Prince to direct the course of conversation.

Well pleased with his reception he went on,--

"Apologies are owing for the interruption of your sport. I fear we've done that?"

"No, your Highness," said Sabrina. "We had finished for the day."

"Egad! A good finish too. I myself witnessed the kill, and never saw handsomer. Your peregrines are n.o.ble birds, and well trained to their work. Ah! you have a merlin, too. Pretty creature?"

By chance the merlin was perched upon the neck of Vaga's palfrey; and, while speaking, the Prince had drawn close up, as if to get a nearer view of it. But his eyes were on the girl's face instead, and the "pretty creature" seemed an apostrophe to her rather than the bird. For it was spoken with peculiar emphasis, and in a subdued tone, as if he did not desire her sister to hear it. Nor did she, having become engaged in conversation with Captain Trevor, some distance apart.

"She's very clever," rejoined Vaga, referring to the merlin, and without appearing to notice the gaze directed upon her,--"can kill everything she's cast-off at."

"Ah!" sighed the Prince. "Fatal to all the larks and buntings, just as the eyes of her mistress must be to all men."

She looked at him with a puzzled expression. What a strange remark to make about her sister, whom he could never have seen, save that once as they pa.s.sed him going out of Bristol! But she understood it, on his adding,--

"The little beauty is yours, I take it?"

"No, your Highness," she answered, without making any allusion to the implied compliment, though its _braverie_ jarred upon her ear. "The merlin belongs to my sister. The peregrines are mine."

"Happy peregrines!" he exclaimed, pretending to apostrophise the two great falcons, that, now hooded, had been returned to their kedge. "How I should like to be one of you! Ay; would consent to be held in leash for life, could I but hope for caresses, such as you receive from the hands of your beautiful mistress. Ah! that must be sweet?"

There could be no mistaking the character of speech like this, rude even to impertinence. It brought the red into the young girl's cheeks, and she would have angrily resented it, but was restrained by the caution late received from her sister. Still, to let it pa.s.s unnoticed was out of the question, and would likely lead to her being yet further insulted. Making an effort to curb her kindling indignation, she rejoined, calmly as she could,--

"Such language may befit the fine Court ladies, with whom your Highness is accustomed to hold conversation. We simple country girls are not used to it."

Regardless of modest manners, even of common decency, as was this German Prince, he felt the rebuke, and quailed under it. For the glance of quiet scorn that went with the words told him he was putting on airs, and paying compliments to no purpose. In that quarter all would be thrown away.

With a light laugh he endeavoured to conceal his discomfiture, saying apologetically,--

"Oh! mistress, you must pardon the free speech of a Cavalier. Our tongues, as our swords, often fly out without reflection. Be a.s.sured I meant not to offend--far from it."

Apology was a bitter pill for Prince Rupert to swallow; but he gulped it down with a better grace, confident of having the "bit of saucy sweetness" in his power. If he failed to make conquest of her, there was another way to fall back upon; that to which his low familiar, Lunsford, had been all along counselling him.

The little _desagrement_ brought their _tete-a-tete_ to an end, the Prince not caring to continue it. It could be resumed at a more favourable opportunity, which he meant to find before leaving Hollymead.

Seeming suddenly to recollect himself, he said, in voice loud enough to be heard by the elder sister, as he intended it,--

"But, ladies! I've only half apologised for our intrusion, and trust you will pardon it, when you hear my excuses. I was on the way to visit your worthy father, with whom I have some business. When hearing the _hooha-ha_!--ardent falconer as I am--I couldn't resist coming across to learn the result. Permit me to take leave of you, with thanks for your gracious reception. Unless, indeed, you do me the further honour of letting me escort you to the house. If I dared make so free, I would even ask the favour of being introduced by you to your father, with whom I regret not having personal acquaintance."

"Our father is not at home," said Sabrina, speaking for both.

"Indeed?" he exclaimed, looking half-disappointed, half-pleased.

"That's unfortunate. But I suppose you expect him soon?"

"We cannot tell what time he may return, your Highness."

"Ah! he's gone upon a journey, then. May I ask whither? You'll pardon the inquiry, in view of my business with him?"

"To Gloucester," she answered, without hesitation, too glad to have the questioner think that he inquired about was in that safe city.

"His absence is disappointing," said the Prince--half in soliloquy, and half addressing himself to Captain Trevor. "It will necessitate our staying here for the night." This loud enough for the ladies to hear.

"I regret that," he pursued, again turning to them, "not on my own account, but because the quartering of my escort at Hollymead cannot be over agreeable to you. However, I can promise best behaviour on their part; and should your servants have any rudeness to complain of it shall be punished with all severity."

This self-invitation to the hospitality of Hollymead House, however vexatious to the daughters of its absent owner, did not at all surprise them. They had been expecting it as the upshot; for, despite his fine phrases of apology--all pretence--the Prince's bearing and manner told them how much he felt himself their master.

Withal, they were not dismayed, Sabrina making calm rejoinder, with some formal words, that Hollymead would be too much honoured by his presence.

Then in a whisper to Vaga, as they drew side by side to ride home,--

"Keep up courage, Vag. Above all keep your temper. Everything may depend on that. We're among wolves, that may tear us if angered."

"Go back, Captain!" called the Prince to Trevor. "Give my commands to Colonel Lunsford, and tell him to bring the escort on to the house."

"Lunsford along with them!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Sabrina, in undertone to her sister. "That makes my words good. We _are_ among wolves."

The evil repute of this man justified her speech. It had been spreading day by day, till his name was now become a synonym of inhumanity--a bogie to stop the crying of the babes in the cradle.

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.

A CRIME IN CONTEMPLATION.

Still self-invited, Rupert accompanied the ladies to the house, and a.s.sisted them to dismount with great show of courtesy and respect. The little ruffle with Vaga had determined him not to try on that tack again.