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arms； he was surely a fatalist。 The question as to whether or not he should ever reach it； should ever find himself really bound for home； was one which seemed to trouble him slightly enough。 He thought with a faint； wistful interest of the various ports of call； of the days which might pass； each one bringing him nearer the end。 He suffered himself； even； to think of that faint blur upon the horizon； the breath of the spicy winds； the strange home perfumes of the bay； as he drew nearer and nearer to the outstretched arms of his country。 Well； if not he； another！ It was something to have done one's best。
The rustle of a woman's garment disturbed him； and he turned his head。 Penelope stood there in her trim riding habit；a garb in which he had never seen her。 She held her skirts in her hand and looked at him with a curious little smile。
〃It is too early in the morning； Prince；〃 she said； 〃for you to sit there dreaming so long and so earnestly。 Come in to breakfast。 Every one is down； for a wonder。〃
〃Breakfast； by all means；〃 he answered； coming blithely up the broad steps。 〃You are going to ride this morning？〃
〃I suppose we all are； more or less；〃 she answered。 〃It is our hunt steeplechases； you know。 Poor Grace is in there nearly sobbing her eyes out。 Captain Chalmers has thrown her over。 Lady Barbaritythat's Grace's favorite mare； and her entry for the cupturned awkward with him yesterday； and he won't have anything more to do with her。〃
〃From your tone；〃 he remarked； pushing open the French windows； 〃I gather that this is a tragedy。 I； unfortunately； do not understand。〃
〃You should ask Grace herself；〃 Penelope said。 〃There she is。〃
Lady Grace looked round from her place at the head of the breakfast table。
〃Come and sympathize with me； Prince；〃 she cried。 〃For weeks I have been fancying myself the proud possessor of the hunt cup。 Now that horrid man； Captain Chalmers； has thrown me over at the last moment。 He refuses to ride my mare because she was a little fractious yesterday。〃
〃It is a great misfortune；〃 the Prince said in a tone of polite regret； 〃but surely it is not irreparable？ There must be otherswhy not your own groom？〃
A smile went round the table。 The Duke hastened to explain。
〃The race is for gentlemen riders only；〃 he said。 〃The horses have to be the property of members of the hunt。 There would be no difficulty； of course； in finding a substitute for Captain Chalmers； but the race takes place this morning； and I am afraid； with all due respect to my daughter； that her mare hasn't the best of reputations。〃
〃I won't have a word said against Lady Barbarity；〃 Lady Grace declared。 〃Captain Chalmers is a good horseman； of course but for a lightweight he has the worst hands I ever knew。〃
〃But surely amongst your immediate friends there must be many others；〃 the Prince said。 〃Sir Charles； for instance？〃
〃Charlie is riding his own horse；〃 Lady Grace answered。 〃He hasn't the ghost of a chance； but； of course； he won't give it up。〃
〃Not I！〃 Somerfield answered； gorgeous in pink coat and riding breeches。 〃My old horse may not be fast； but he can go the course； and I'm none too certain of the others。 Some of those hurdles'll take a bit of doing。〃
〃It is a shame；〃 the Prince remarked； 〃that you should be disappointed； Lady Grace。 Would they let me ride for you？〃
Nothing the Prince could have said would have astonished the little company more。 Somerfield came to a standstill in the middle of the room； with a cup of tea in one hand and a plate of ham in the other。
〃You！〃 Lady Grace exclaimed。
〃Do you really mean it； Prince？〃 Penelope cried。
〃Well； why not？〃 he asked； himself； in turn； somewhat surprised。 〃If I am eligible； and Lady Grace chooses； it seems to me very simple。〃
〃But；〃 the Duke intervened； 〃I did not knowwe did not know that you were a sportsman； Prince。〃
〃A sportsman？〃 the Prince repeated a little doubtfully。 〃Perhaps I am not that according to your point of view； but when it comes to a question or riding； why； that is easy enough。〃
〃Have you ever ridden in a steeplechase？〃 Somerfield asked him。
〃Never in my life；〃 the Prince declared。 〃Frankly； I do not know what it is。〃
〃There are jumps； for one thing；〃 Somerfield continued；〃pretty stiff affairs； too。〃
〃If Lady Grace's mare is a hunter；〃 the Prince remarked； 〃she can probably jump them。〃
〃The question is whether〃 Somerfield began； and stopped short。
The Prince looked up。
〃Yes？〃 he asked。
Somerfield hesitated to complete his sentence； and the Duke once more intervened。
〃What Somerfield was thinking； my dear Prince；〃 he said； 〃was that a steeplechase course； as they ride in this country； needs some knowing。 You have never been on my daughter's mare before。〃
The Prince smiled。
〃So far as I am concerned；〃 he said； 〃that is of no account。 There was a day at MukdenI do not like to talk of it； but it comes back to mewhen I rode twelve different horses in twenty…four hours； but perhaps；〃 he added； turning to Lady Grace； 〃you would not care to trust your horse with one who is a stranger to yourwhat is it you call them？steeplechases。〃
〃On the contrary； Prince；〃 Lady Grace exclaimed； 〃you shall ride her； and I am going to back you for all I am worth。〃
Bransome； who was also in riding clothes； although he was not taking part in the steeplechases himself； glanced at the clock。
〃You are running it rather fine；〃 he said。 〃You'll scarcely have time to hack round the course。〃
〃Some one must explain it to me；〃 the Prince said。 〃I need only to be told where to go。 If there is no time for that； I must stay with the other horses until the finish。 There is a flat finish perhaps？〃
〃About three hundred yards；〃 the Duke answered。
〃Have you any riding clothes？〃 Penelope whispered to him。
〃Without a doubt；〃 he answered。 〃I will go and change in a few minutes。〃
〃We start in half an hour；〃 Somerfield remarked。 〃Even that allows us none too much time。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 the Duke suggested diffidently； 〃you would like to ride over； Prince？ It is a good eleven miles； and you would have a chance of getting into your stride。〃
The Prince shook his head。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I should like to motor with you others； if I may。〃
〃Just as you like； of course；〃 the Duke agreed。 〃Grace's mare is over there now。 We shall be able to have a look at her before the race； at any rate。〃
The opinions； after the Prince had left the table； were a little divided as to what was likely to happen。
〃For a man who has never even hunted and knows nothing whatever about the country；〃 Somerfield declared； 〃to attempt to ride in a steeplechase of this sort is sheer folly。 If you take my advice； Lady Grace； you will get out of it。 Lady Barbarity is far too good a mare to have her knees broken。〃
〃I am perfectly content to take my risks；〃 Lady Grace answered confidently。 〃If the Prince had never ridden before in his life； I would trust him。〃
Somerfield turned away； frowning。
〃What do you think about it； Penelope？〃 he asked。
〃I am afraid；〃 she answered； 〃that I agree with Grace。〃
Two punctures and a leaking valve delayed them over an hour on the road。 When they reached their destination； the first race was already over。
〃It's shocking bad luck；〃 the Duke declared； 〃but there's no earthly chance of your seeing the course； Prince。 Come on the top of the stand with me； and bring your glasses。 I think I can point out the way for you。〃
〃That will do excellently；〃 the Prince answered。 〃There is no need to go and look at every jump。 Show me where we start and as near as possible the way we have to go； and tell me where we finish。〃
The course was a natural one； and the stand itself on a hill。 The greater part of it was clearly visible from where they stood。 The Duke pointed out the water jump with some trepidation； but the Prince's glasses rested on it only for a moment。 He pointed to a clump of trees。
〃Which side there？〃 he asked。
〃To the left；〃 the Duke answered。 Remember to keep inside the red flags。〃
The Prince nodded。
〃Where do we finish？〃 he asked。
The Duke showed him。
〃That is all right；〃 he said。 〃I need not look any more。〃
In the paddock some of the horses were being led around。 The Prince noted them approvingly。
〃Very nice horses；〃 he said；〃light； but very nice。 That one I like best；〃 he added； pointing to a dark bay mare； who was already giving her boy some trouble。
〃That's lucky；〃 the Duke answered； 〃for she's your mount。 I must go and talk to the clerk about your entry。 It is a little late； but I think that it will be all right。〃
The Prince glanced over Lady Grace's mare and turned aside to join Penelope and Somerfield。
〃I like the look of my horse； Sir Charles；〃 he said。 〃I think that I shall beat you today。〃
〃We both start at five to one；〃 Somerfield answered。 〃Shall we have a bet？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 the Prince agreed。 〃Will you name the amount？ I do not know what is usual。〃
〃Anything you like；〃 Somerfield answered； 〃from ten pounds to a hundred。〃
〃One hundred；we will say one hundred； then；〃 the Prince declared。 〃My mount against yours。 So！〃
He threw off his overcoat； and they saw for the first time that he was dressed in English riding cl