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The Prime Minister rose to his feet and intercepted them on their way to the door。
〃Miss Morse；〃 he said； 〃may we ransom the Prince？ We want to talk to him。〃
〃Do you insinuate；〃 she laughed； 〃that he is a captive of mine？〃
〃We are all captives of Miss Morse's；〃 Bransome said with a bow； 〃and all enemies of Somerfield's。〃
Somerfield； hearing his name； came up to them。 The Duchess； too； strolled over to the fire。 The Prime Minister and Bransome returned with Maiyo towards the corner of the room where they had been sitting。
〃Prince；〃 the Prime Minister said； 〃we have been talking about your speech at the Herrick Club last night。〃
The Prince smiled a little gravely。
〃Did I say too much？〃 he asked。 〃It all came as a surprise to methe toast and everything connected with it。 I saw my name down to reply； and it seemed discourteous of me not to speak。 But； as yet； I do not altogether understand these functions。 I did not altogether understand； for instance； how much I might say and how much I ought to leave unsaid。〃
〃〃We have read what you said；〃 Bransome remarked。 〃What we should like to hear； if I may venture to say so； is what you left unsaid。〃
The Prince for a moment was thoughtful。 Perhaps he remembered that the days had passed when it was necessary for him to keep so jealously his own counsel。 Perhaps his natural love of the truth triumphed。 He felt a sudden longing to tell these people who had been kind to him the things which he had seen amongst them； the things which only a stranger coming fresh to the country could perhaps fully comprehend。
〃What I said was of little importance；〃 the Prince remarked； 〃but I felt myself placed in a very difficult position。 Before I knew what to expect； I was listening to a glorification of the arms of my country at the expense of Russia。 I was being hailed as one of a nation who possess military genius which had not been equalled since the days of Hannibal and Caesar。 Many things of that sort were said； many things much too kind； many things which somehow it grieved me to listen to。 And when I stood up to reply； I felt that the few words which I must say would sound； perhaps； ungracious； but they must be said。 It was one of those occasions which seemed to call for the naked truth。〃
Penelope and the Duchess had joined the little group。
〃May we stay？〃 the former asked。 〃I read every word of your speech；〃 she added； turning to the Prince。 〃Do tell us why you spoke so severely； what it was that you objected to so strongly in General Ennison's remarks？〃
The Prince turned earnestly towards her。
〃My dear young lady；〃 he said； 〃all that I objected to was this over…glorification of the feats of arms accomplished by us。 People over here did not understand。 On the one side were the great armies of Russia；men drawn； all of them； from the ranks of the peasant； men of low nerve force； men who were not many degrees better than animals。 They came to fight against us because it was their business to fight； because for fighting they drew their scanty pay； their food； and their drink； and the clothes they wore。 They fought because if they refused they faced the revolver bullets of their officers；men like themselves； who also fought because it was their profession； because it was in the traditions of their family； but who would； I think； have very much preferred disporting themselves in the dancing halls of their cities； drinking champagne with the ladies of their choice； or gambling with cards。 I do not say that these were not brave men； all of them。 I myself saw them face death by the hundreds； but the lust of battle was in their veins then； the taste of blood upon their palates。 We do not claim to be called world conquerors because we overcame these men。 If one could have seen into the hearts of our own soldiers as they marched into battle； and seen also into the hearts of those others who lay there sullenly waiting； one would not have wondered then。 There was； indeed； nothing to wonder at。 What we cannot make you understand over here is that every Japanese soldier who crept across the bare plains or lay stretched in the trenches； who loaded his rifle and shot and killed and waited for death；every man felt something beating in his heart which those others did not feel。 We have no great army； Mr。 Haviland； but what we have is a great nation who have things beating in their heart the knowledge of which seems somehow to have grown cold amongst you Western people。 The boy is born with it； it is there in his very soul； as dear to him as the little home where he lives； the blossoming trees under which he plays。 It leads him to the rifle and the drill ground as naturally as the boys of your country turn to the cricket fields and the football ground。 Over here you call that spirit patriotism。 It was something which beat in the heart of every one of those hundreds of thousands of men； something which kept their eyes clear and bright as they marched into battle； which made them look Death itself in the face； and fight even while the blackness crept over them。 You see； your own people have so many interests； so many excitements； so much to distract。 With us it is not so。 In the heart of the Japanese comes the love of his parents； the love of his wife and children； and； deepest； perhaps； of all the emotions he knows； the strong magnificent background to his life； the love of the country which bore him； which shelters them。 It is for his home he fights； for his simple joys amongst those who are dear to him； for the great mysterious love of the Motherland。 Forgive me if I have expressed myself badly； have repeated myself often。 It is a matter which I find it so hard to talk about； so hard here to make you understand。〃
〃But you must not think； Prince； that we over here are wholly lacking in that same instinct；〃 the Duke said。 〃Remember our South African war； and the men who came to arms and rallied round the flag when their services were needed。〃
〃I do remember that；〃 the Prince answered。 〃I wish that I could speak of it in other terms。 Yet it seems to me that I must speak as I find things。 You say that the men came to arms。 They did； but how？ Untrained； unskilled in carrying weapons； they rushed across the seas to be the sport of the farmers who cut them off or shot them down； to be a hindrance in the way of the mercenaries who fought for you。 Yes； you say they rallied to the call！ What brought them？ Excitement； necessity； necessities of their social standing； bravado； cheap heroismany one of these。 But I tell you that patriotism as we understand it is a deeper thing。 In the land where it flourishes there is no great pre…eminence in what you call sports or games。 It does not come like a whirlwind on the wings of disaster。 It grows with the limbs and the heart of the boy； grows with his muscles and his brawn。 It is part of his conscience； part of his religion。 As he realizes that he has a country of his own to protect； a dear； precious heritage come down to him through countless ages； so he learns that it is his sacred duty to know how to do his share in defending it。 The spare time of our youth； Mr。 Haviland； is spent learning to shoot； to scout； to bear hardships； to acquire the arts of war。 I tell you that there was not one general who went with our troops to Manchuria； but a hundred thousand。 We have no great army。 We are a nation of men whose religion it is to fight when their country's welfare is threatened。〃
There was a short silence。 The Prime Minister and Bransome exchanged rapid glances。
〃These； then；〃 Penelope said slowly； 〃were the things you left unsaid。〃
The Prince raised his hand a littlea deprecatory gesture。
〃Perhaps even now；〃 he said； 〃it was scarcely courteous of me to say them； only I know that they come to you as no new thing。 There are many of your countrymen who are speaking to you now in the Press as I； a stranger； have spoken。 Sometimes it is harder to believe one of your own family。 That is why I have dared to say so much；I； a foreigner； eager and anxious only to observe and to learn。 I think； perhaps； that it is to such that the truth comes easiest。〃
Of a purpose； the three men who were there said nothing。 The Prince offered Penelope his arm。
〃I will not be disappointed；〃 he said。 〃You promised that you would show me the palm garden。 I have talked too much。〃
CHAPTER XXIX。 A RACE
The Prince； on his way back from his usual before…breakfast stroll； lingered for a short time amongst the beds of hyacinths and yellow crocuses。 Somehow or other； these spring flowers； stiffly set out and with shrivelled edgesa little reminiscent of the last east windstill seemed to him； in their perfume at any rate； to being him memories of his own country。 Pink and blue and yellow； in all manner of sizes and shapes； the beds spread away along the great front below the terrace of the castle。 This morning the wind was coming from the west。 The sun； indeed； seemed already to have gained some strength。 The Prince sat for a moment or two upon the gray stone balustrade； looking to where the level country took a sudden ascent and ended in a thick belt of pine trees。 Beyond lay the sea。 As he sat there with folded arms； he was surely a fatalist。 The question as to