He bowed and smiled.
'I usually walk here in the mornings,' he said.
'You surprise me,' she returned. 'I thought I was the only person in London who preferred the Embankment, with this view of the river, to the dustiness of Hyde Park. I can't imagine how it is that London will never take exercise anywhere except in that ridiculous Park. Now, if they had Central Park - '
'I think the Embankment is the finest spot in all London,' he said.
She leaned a little out of the landau, bringing her face nearer to his.
'I do believe we are kindred spirits, you and I,' she murmured; and then, 'Au revoir, Prince!'
'One moment, Miss Racksole.' His quick tones had a note of entreaty.
'I am in a hurry,' she fibbed; 'I am not merely taking exercise this morning. You have no idea how busy we are.'
'Ah! then I will not trouble you. But I leave the Grand Babylon to-night'
'Do you?' she said. 'Then will your Highness do me the honour of lunching with me today in Father's room? Father will be out - he is having a day in the City with some stockbroking persons.'
'I shall be charmed,' said the Prince, and his face showed that he meant it.
Nella drove off.
If the lunch was a success that result was due partly to Rocco, and partly to Nella. The Prince said little beyond what the ordinary rules of the conversational game demanded. His hostess talked much and talked well, but she failed to rouse her guest. When they had had coffee he took a rather formal leave of her.
'Good-bye, Prince,' she said, 'but I thought - that is, no I didn't.
Good-bye.'
'You thought I wished to discuss something with you. I did; but I have decided that I have no right to burden your mind with my affairs.'
'But suppose - suppose I wish to be burdened?'
'That is your good nature.'
'Sit down,' she said abruptly, 'and tell me everything; mind, everything. I adore secrets.'
Almost before he knew it he was talking to her, rapidly, eagerly.
'Why should I weary you with my confidences?' he said. 'I don't know, I cannot tell; but I feel that I must. I feel that you will understand me better than anyone else in the world. And yet why should you understand me? Again, I don't know.
Miss Racksole, I will disclose to you the whole trouble in a word. Prince Eugen, the hereditary Grand Duke of Posen, has disappeared. Four days ago I was to have met him at Ostend. He had affairs in London. He wished me to come with him. I sent Dimmock on in front, and waited for Eugen. He did not arrive. I telegraphed back to Cologne, his last stopping-place, and I learned that he had left there in accordance with his programme; I leamed also that he had passed through Brussels. It must have been between Brussels and the railway station at Ostend Quay that he disappeared. He was travelling with a single equerry, and the equerry, too, has vanished. I need not explain to you, Miss Racksole, that when a person of the importance of my nephew contrives to get lost one must proceed cautiously. One cannot advertise for him in the London Times. Such a disappearance must be kept secret. The people at Posen and at Berlin believe that Eugen is in London, here, at this hotel; or, rather, they did so believe. But this morning I received a cypher telegram from - from His Majesty the Emperor, a very peculiar telegram, asking when Eugen might be expected to return to Posen, and requesting that he should go first to Berlin. That telegram was addressed to myself. Now, if the Emperor thought that Eugen was here, why should he have caused the telegram to be addressed to me? I have hesitated for three days, but I can hesitate no longer. I must myself go to the Emperor and acquaint him with the facts.'
'I suppose you've just got to keep straight with him?' Nella was on the point of saying, but she checked herself and substituted, 'The Emperor is your chief, is he not? 'First among equals', you call him.'
'His Majesty is our over-lord,' said Aribert quietly.
'Why do you not take immediate steps to inquire as to the whereabouts of your Royal nephew?' she asked simply. The affair seemed to her just then so plain and straightforward.
'Because one of two things may have happened. Either Eugen may have been, in plain language, abducted, or he may have had his own reasons for changing his programme and keeping in the background - out of reach of telegraph and post and railways.'
'What sort of reasons?'
'Do not ask me. In the history of every family there are passages - ' He stopped.
'And what was Prince Eugen's object in coming to London?'
Aribert hesitated.
'Money,' he said at length. 'As a family we are very poor - poorer than anyone in Berlin suspects.'
'Prince Aribert,' Nella said, 'shall I tell you what I think?' She leaned back in her chair, and looked at him out of half-closed eyes. His pale, thin, distinguished face held her gaze as if by some fascination. There could be no mistaking this man for anything else but a Prince.
'If you will,' he said.
'Prince Eugen is the victim of a plot.'
'You think so?'
'I am perfectly convinced of it.'
