JANE. I mean--blue and gold. They don't do it nowadays. MELISANDE (nodding to her). _He_ did, Jane. JANE. But how?--Why? Who can he be? MELISANDE. He said he was a humble woodcutter's son. That means he was a prince in disguise. He called me his princess. JANE. Darling, how could he be a prince? MELISANDE. I have read stories sometimes of men who went to sleep and woke up thousands of years afterwards and found themselves in a different world. Perhaps, Jane, _he_ lived in those old days, and---- JANE. Did he _talk_ like an ordinary person? MELISANDE. Oh no, no! JANE. Well, it's really extraordinary. . . . Was he a gentleman? MELISANDE (smiling at her). I didn't ask him, Jane. JANE (crossly). You know what I mean. MELISANDE. He is coming this afternoon to take me away. JANE (amazed). To take you away? But what about Aunt Mary? MELISANDE (vaguely). Aunt Mary? What has _she_ got to do with it? JANE (impatiently). Oh, but---- (With a shrug of resignation) I don't understand. Do you mean he's coming _here_? (MELISANDE nods gravely) Melisande, you'll let me see him? MELISANDE. Yes. I've thought it all out. I wanted you here, Jane. He will come in; I will present you; and then you must leave us alone. But I should like you to see him. Just to see how different, how utterly different he is from every other man. . . . But you will promise to go when you have seen him, won't you? JANE (nodding). I'll say, "I'm afraid I must leave you now, and----" Sandy, how _can_ he be a prince? MELISANDE. When you see him, Jane, you will say, "How can he not be a prince?" JANE. But one has to leave princes backward. I mean--he won't expect--_you_ know---- MELISANDE. I don't think so. Besides, after all, you are my cousin. JANE. Yes. I think I shall get that in; just to be on the safe side. "Well, cousin, I must leave you now, as I have to attend my aunt." And then a sort of--not exactly a curtsey, but--(she practises, murmuring the words to herself). I suppose you didn't happen to mention _me_ to him this morning? MELISANDE (half smiling). Oh no! JANE (hurt). I don't see why you shouldn't have. What did you talk about? MELISANDE. I don't know. (She grips JANE'S arm suddenly) Jane, I didn't dream it all this morning, did I? It did happen? I saw him--he kissed me--he is coming for me--he---- (Enter ALICE) ALICE. Mr. Gervase Mallory. MELISANDE (happily). Ah! (GERVASE comes in, an apparently ordinary young man in a loud golfing suit.) GERVASE. How do you do? MELISANDE (looking at him with growing amazement and horror). Oh! (JANE looks from one to the other in bewilderment.) GERVASE. I ought to explain. Mr. Knowle was kind enough to lend me some petrol last night; my car broke down; he was good enough to say I might come this afternoon and see his prints. I am hoping to be allowed to thank him again for his kindness last night. And--er--I've brought back the petrol.