"I take this road nearly every morning," said she, looking out upon the water, which was ruffling itself and quarreling along the sandy sh.o.r.es.
Max said nothing, but he at once made up his mind that he would take the same road, provided he could in any reasonable manner get rid of me.
"Did you enjoy the ride?" asked the Honorable Betty, as her Highness came in to breakfast. There were no formalities in the princess"
apartments.
"Beautifully!" Her Highness guiltily wondered if there was any logical way to keep Betty in the house for the next few mornings. She sat down and sipped her tea. "The duke talked to me last night. Steinbock played double."
"What!"
"Yes. He sold us to the duke, who patiently waited for me to speak.
Betty, I am a fool. But I shall never marry Doppelkinn. That is settled."
"I suppose he will be inviting me to return to England," said Betty shrewdly.
"Not for the present."
"And I have just grown to love the place,"--pathetically. "Mr.
Warrington has asked me to ride with him afternoons. His ankle prevents him from taking the long morning jaunts. If it will not interfere with your plans, dear--"
"Accept, by all means," interrupted her Highness. "He is a capital horseman." She smiled mysteriously. Happily her companion was absorbed in thought and did not see this smile.
Max came in at quarter of ten, went to tub, and came down in time for the eggs.
"Have a good ride?" I asked.
"Bully! Beautiful country!" He was enthusiastic.
"How these healthy animals eat!" I thought as I observed him occasionally.
"Wish I could go with you," I said, but half-heartedly.
"I"ll get the lay of the land quick enough," he replied.
The rascal! Not a word about the girl that morning, or the next, or until Thursday morning. If only I had known! But Fate knows her business better than I do, and she was handling the affair. But long rides of a morning with a pretty girl are not safe for any bachelor.
Thursday morning he came in late. He dropped something on the table.
On inspection I found it to be a woman"s handkerchief purse.
"Where the deuce did you get that?" I asked, mighty curious.
"By George! but I"ve been enjoying the most enchanting adventure; such as you read out of a book. I"m inclined to believe that I shall enjoy my studies in old Barscheit."
"But where did you get this?" If there was a girl around, I wanted to know all about it.
"She dropped it."
"_She_ dropped it!" I repeated. "What she? Why, you old tow-head, have you been flirting at this hour of the morning?"
"Handsome as a picture!"
"Ha! the ideal at last,"--ironically. "Blonde, of course."
"Dark as a Spaniard, and rides like Diana." His enthusiasm was not to be lightly pa.s.sed over.
"Never heard of Diana riding," said I; "always saw her pictured as going afoot."
"Don"t be an a.s.s! You know very well what I mean."
"I"ve no argument to offer, nor any picture to prove my case. You"ve had an adventure; give it up, every bit of it."
"One of the finest horsewomen I ever saw. Took a wall three feet high the other morning, just to see if I dared follow. Lucky Dandy is a hunter, or I"d have broken my neck."
"Very interesting." Then of a sudden a thought flashed through my head and out again. "Anybody with her?"
"Only myself these three mornings."
"H"m! Did you get as far as names?"
"Yes; I told her mine. Who is Hildegarde von Heideloff?"
"Heideloff?" I was puzzled. My suspicions evaporated. "I can"t say that I know any one by that name. Sure it was Heideloff?"
"Do you mean to tell me," with blank astonishment, "that there is a petticoat on horseback in this duchy that you do not know?"
"I don"t know any woman by the name of Hildegarde von Heideloff; on my word of honor, Max, I don"t."
"Old Bauer, the blacksmith, knew her."
Bauer? All my suspicions returned. "Describe the girl to me."
"Handsome figure, ma.s.ses of black hair, great black eyes that are full of good fun, a delicate nose, and I might add, a very kissable mouth."
"What! have you kissed her?" I exclaimed.
"No, no! Only, I"d like to."
"H"m! You"ve made quite a study. She must be visiting some one near-by. There is an old castle three miles west of the smithy. Did she speak English?"
"Yes,"--excitedly.
"That accounts for it. An old English n.o.bleman lives over there during the summer months, and it is not improbable that she is one of his guests." In my heart I knew that her Highness was up to some of her tricks again, but there was no need of her shattering good old Max"s heart. Yet I felt bound to say: "Why not look into the purse? There might be something there to prove her ident.i.ty."
"Look into her purse?"--horrified. "You wouldn"t have me peeping into a woman"s purse, would you? Suppose there should be a box of rouge?
Her cheeks were red."
"Quite likely."