"I can't pardon you until you are found guilty," said the Prince in English.
"Please put those poor little things back in the pool, Mr. King," said the lady in perfect English.
"Gladly—with the Prince's permission," said King, also in English. The Prince looked glum, but interposed no imperial objection. Instead he suddenly shoved the cigarette box under the nose of his dainty relative, who at that unpropitious instant stooped over to watch King's awkward attempt to release the fishes.
"Look at the worms," said the Prince engagingly, opening the box with a snap.
"Oh!" cried the young lady, starting back. "Throw them away! the horned things!"
"Oh, they can't bite," scoffed the Prince. "See! I'm not afraid of 'em. Look at this one." He held up a wriggler and she fled to the rock. She happened to glance at Truxton's averted face and was conscious of a broad grin; whereupon she laughed in the quick staccato of embarrassment.
It must be confessed that King's composure was sorely disturbed. In the first place, he had been caught in a most reprehensible act, and in the second place, he was not quite sure that the Prince could save him from ignominious expulsion under the very eyes—and perhaps direction—of this trim and attractive member of the royal household. He found himself blundering foolishly with the fishes and wondering whether she was a duchess or just a plain countess. Even a regal personage might jump at the sight of angle worms, he reflected.
He glanced up, to find her studying him, plainly perplexed.
"I just wondered in here," he began guiltily. "The Prince captured me down there by the big tree."
"Did you say your name is Truxton King?" she asked somewhat sceptically.