"I cannot tell," he answered. "Perhaps one day, perhaps a week, perhaps—"
"No!" the Princess interrupted, "I do not wish to hear that eventuality."
"You know that the Duke is still about?" Forrest said gloomily. "I saw him this morning. There has been a fellow, too—a detective, of course—enquiring about the car and who was able to drive it."
"But that," the Princess interrupted, "is all in our favour. You were seen to bring it back up the drive about ten o'clock in the morning."
Forrest nodded.
"Don't let's talk about it," he said. "Where is Jeanne? Do you know?"
The Princess pointed toward the lawn to where Cecil and Jeanne were just starting a game of croquet. Forrest watched them for a few minutes meditatively.
"Ena," he said, dropping his voice a little, "what are you going to do with that child? I have never quite understood your plans. You promised to talk to me about it while we were down here."
"I know," the Princess answered, "only this other affair has driven everything out of our minds. What I should like to do," she continued, "is to marry her before she comes of age, if I can find any one willing to pay the price."
"The price?" he repeated doubtfully.