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try； and I believe that he would consider it sacrilege if he allowed any slighter things to divert at any time his mind from its main purpose。 He would feel like a priest who has broken his ordination vows。〃
〃That's all very well；〃 Somerfield said coolly； 〃but there's nothing in life nowadays to make us quite so strenuous as that。〃
〃Isn't there？〃 Penelope answered。 〃You are an Englishman； and you should know。 Are you convinced； then； that your country today is at the height of her prosperity； safe and sound； bound to go on triumphant； prosperous； without the constant care of her men？〃
Somerfield looked up at her in growing amazement。
〃What on earth's got hold of you； Penelope？〃 he asked。 〃Have you been reading the sensational papers； or stuffing yourself up with jingoism； or what？〃
She laughed。
〃None of those things； I can assure you；〃 she said。 〃A man like the Prince makes one think； because； you see； every standard of life we have is a standard of comparison。 When one sees the sort of man he is； one wonders。 When one sees how far apart he is from you Englishmen in his ideals and the way he spends his life； one wonders again。
Somerfield shrugged his shoulders。
〃We do well enough；〃 he said。 〃Japan is the youngest of the nations。 She has a long way to go to catch us up。〃
〃We do well enough！〃 she repeated under her breath。 〃There was a great city once which adopted that as her motto；people dig up mementoes of her sometimes from under the sands。〃
Somerfield looked at her in an aggrieved fashion。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃I thought that this was to be an amusing luncheon party。〃
〃You should have talked more to Lady Grace；〃 she answered。 〃I am sure that she is quite ready to believe that you are perfection； and the English army the one invincible institution in the world。 You mustn't take me too seriously today； Charlie。 I have a headache； and I think that it has made me dull。〃 。 。 。
They trooped out into the foyer in irregular fashion to take their coffee。 The Prince and Penelope were side by side。
〃What I like about your restaurant life；〃 the Prince said； 〃is the strange mixture of classes which it everywhere reveals。〃
〃Those two； for instance；〃 Penelope said； and then stopped short。
The Prince followed her slight gesture。 Inspector Jacks and Dr。 Spencer Whiles were certainly just a little out of accord with their surroundings。 The detective's clothes were too new and his companion's too old。 The doctor's clothes indeed were as shabby as his waiting room； and he sat where the sunlight was merciless。
〃How singular；〃 the Prince remarked with a smile； 〃that you should have pointed those two men out！ One of them I know； and； if you will excuse me for a moment； I should like to speak to him。〃
Penelope was not capable of any immediate answer。 The Prince； with a kindly and yet gracious smile； walked over to Inspector Jacks； who rose at once to his feet。
〃I hope you have quite recovered； Mr。 Inspector；〃 the Prince said； holding out his hand in friendly fashion。 〃I have felt very guilty over your indisposition。 I am sure that I keep my rooms too close for English people。〃
〃Thank you； Prince；〃 the Inspector answered； 〃I am perfectly well again。 In fact； I have not felt anything of my little attack since。〃
The Prince smiled。
〃I am glad；〃 he said。 〃Next time you are good enough to pay me a visit； I will see that you do not suffer in the same way。〃
He nodded kindly and rejoined his friends。 The Inspector resumed his seat and busied himself with relighting his cigar。 He purposely did not even glance at his companion。
〃Who was that？〃 the doctor asked curiously。 〃Did you call him Prince？〃
Inspector Jacks sighed。 This was a disappointment to him！
〃His name is Prince Maiyo；〃 he said slowly。 〃He is a Japanese。
The doctor looked across the restaurant with puzzled face。
〃It's queer；〃 he said； 〃how all these Japanese seem to one to look so much alike； and yet〃
He broke off in the middle of his sentence。
〃You are thinking of your friend of the other night？〃 the Inspector remarked。
〃I was；〃 the doctor admitted。 〃For a moment it seemed to me like the same man with a different manner。〃
Inspector Jacks was silent。 He puffed steadily at his cigar。
〃You don't suppose；〃 he asked quietly； 〃that it could have been the same man？〃
The doctor was still looking across the room。
〃I could not tell；〃 he said。 〃I should like to see him again。 I wasn't prepared； and there was something so altered in his tone and the way he carried himself。 And yet〃
The pause was expressive。 Inspector Jacks' eyes brightened。 He hated to feel that his day had been altogether wasted。
CHAPTER XXIV。 PRINCE MAIYO BIDS HIGH
Inspector Jacks was in luck at last。 Eleven times he had called at St。 Thomas's Hospital and received the same reply。 Today he was asked to wait。 The patient was betterwould be able to see him。 Soon a nurse in neat uniform came quietly down the corridor and took charge of him。
〃Ten minutes； no more；〃 she insisted good…humoredly。
The Inspector nodded。
〃One question； if you please； nurse；〃 he asked。 〃Is the man going to live？〃
〃Not a doubt about it；〃 she declared。 〃Why？〃
〃 A matter of depositions；〃 the Inspector exclaimed。 〃I'd rather let it go； though； if he's sure to recover。〃
〃It's a simple case；〃 she answered； 〃and his constitution is excellent。 There isn't the least need for your to think about depositions。 Here he is。 Don't talk too long。〃
The Inspector sat down by the bedside。 The patient； a young man； welcomed him a little shyly。
〃You have come to ask me about what I saw in Pall Mall and opposite the Hyde Park Hotel？〃 he said； speaking slowly and in a voice scarcely raised above a whisper。 〃I told them all before the operation； but they couldn't send for you then。 There wasn't time。〃
The Inspector nodded。
〃Tell me your own way；〃 he said。 〃Don't hurry。 We can get the particulars later on。 Glad you're going to be mended。〃
〃It was touch and go；〃 the young man declared with a note of awe in his tone。 〃If the omnibus wheel had turned a foot more； I should have lost both my legs。 It was all through watching that chap hop out of the taxicab； too。〃
The Inspector inclined his head gravely。
〃You saw him get in； didn't you？〃 he asked。
〃That's so；〃 the patient admitted。 〃I was on my wayCharing Cross to the Kensington Palace Hotel； on a bicycle。 There was a blockcorner of Pall Mall and Haymarket。 I caught holdtaxi in frontto steady me。〃
The nurse bent over him with a glass in her hand。 She raised him a little with the other arm。
〃Not too much of this； you know； young man；〃 she said with a pleasant smile。 〃Here's something to make you strong。〃
〃Right you are！〃
He drained the contents of the glass and smacked his lips。
〃Jolly good stuff；〃 he declared。 〃Where was I； Mr。 Inspector？〃
〃Holding the back of a taxicab； corner of Regent Street and Haymarket；〃 Inspector Jacks reminded him。
The patient nodded。
〃There was an electric brougham；〃 he continued； drawn up alongside the taxi。 While we were there； waiting； I saw a chap get out； speak to some one through the window of the taxi； open the door； and step in。 When we moved on； he stayed in the taxi。 Dark； slim chap he was；〃 the patient continued； 〃a regular howling swell；silk hat； white muffler； white kid gloves；all the rest of it。〃
〃And afterwards？〃 the Inspector asked。
〃I kept behind the taxi；〃 the youth continued。 〃We got blocked again at Hyde Park Corner。 I saw him step out of the taxi and disappear amongst the vehicles。 〃A moment or two later； I passed the taxi and looked insaw something had happenedthe fellow was lying side…ways。 It gave me a bit of a start。 I skidded； and over I went。 Sort of had an idea that every one in the world had started shouting to me； and felt that I was half underneath an omnibus。 Woke up to find myself here。〃
〃Should you know the man again？〃 the Inspector asked。 〃I mean the man whom you saw enter and leave the taxi？〃
〃I think sopretty sure！〃
The nurse came up； shaking her head。 Inspector Jacks rose from his seat。
〃Right； nurse；〃 he said。 〃I'm off。 Take care of our young friend。 He is going to be very useful to us as soon as he can use his feet and get about。 I'll come and sit with you for half an hour next visiting day； if I may？〃 he added； turning to the patient。
〃Glad to see you；〃 the youth answered。 〃My people live down in the country； and I haven't many pals。〃
Inspector Jacks left the hospital thoughtfully。 The smell of anaesthetics somehow reminded him of the library in the house at the corner of St。 James' Square。 It was not altogether by chance； perhaps； that he found himself walking in that direction。 He was in Pall Mall； in fact； before he realized where he was； and at the corner of St。 James' Square and Pall Mall he came face to face with Prince Maiyo； walking slowly westwards。
The meeting between the two men was a characteristic one。 The Inspector suffered no signs of surprise or even interest to creep into his expressionless face。 The Prince； on the other hand； did not attempt to conceal his pleasure at this unexpected encounter。 His lips parted in a delightful smile。 He ignored the Inspector's somewhat st