The prince, with a little bow, pointed to the door of his limousine, which a footman was holding open. Louise led John to a smaller car which was waiting in the rear.
"The Carlton," she told the man, as he arranged the rugs. "And now," she added, turning to John, "why have you come to London? How long are you going to stay? What are you going to do? And—most important of all—in what spirit have you come?"
John breathed a little sigh of contentment. They were moving slowly down a back street to take their place in the tide of traffic which flooded the main thoroughfares.
"That sounds so like you," he said. "I came up last night, suddenly. I have no idea how long I am going to stay; I have no idea what I am going to do. As for the spirit in which I have come—well, I should call it an inquiring one."
"A very good start," Louise murmured approvingly, "but still a little vague!"
"Then I will do away with all vagueness. I came to see you," John confessed bluntly.
"Dear me!" she exclaimed, looking at him with a little smile. "How downright you are!"
"Country methods," he reminded her.
"Don't overdo it," she begged.
"The truth—" he began.