Rex stretched his arms and yawned. His half-hour’s nap before their meal had only served to make him more drowsy. “Not for this child,” he declared, wearily. “I guess I’ll wait till we’ve got horses — it’ll not run away, and I’ve just got to have another shut-eye before we start.”
“All right, Simon and I will go,” said the Duke. “We can spare an hour for our inspection while you sleep, and perhaps save another visit.”
“You wish to go to the Château?” said the girl, with a puzzled look. “But why?”
“If it is not troubling you too much, Mademoiselle. I have heard so much of the Prince Shulimoff, that I would like to see his Château even in a state of ruin. We could find our own way back.”
“It was a lovely place,” she admitted. “Even now it is imposing in the moonlight — but the moon will not be up for some time.”
“No matter,” said the Duke. “I would like to see it if we may trespass on your kindness so far.”
“Come then.” She turned to Rex. “And you, Monsieur — you will stay here?”
“Sure thing,” he laughed. “How long do you reckon you’ll be?”
“An hour — an hour and a half perhaps.”
“Then I’ll be sleeping like a log. If I don’t wake, bang me on the head with the frying-pan!”