"We are going to have autographs of all the distinguished people we can find," said the Princess, continuing her system of ingratiation. "I can tell you of an autograph who has just arrived," said Pateley. "I have just seen him driving up from the station; a very expensive autograph indeed--Lord Stamfordham." "Lord Stamfordham?" said Lady Chaloner, the Foreign Secretary, like the rest of the world, falling instantly into his place in her kaleidescope. "Certainly, if he would give us a dozen autographs we should do an excellent business with them." "You had better make Adela Prestige ask him, then," said the Princess with a laugh. "I wonder where Adela is?" said Lady Chaloner, considering the question entirely on its merits. "That depends upon where Lord Stamfordham is," murmured the Princess to her companion. "By the way, Lady Chaloner, before we part, it is Tuesday, isn't it, that we make our expedition to Waldlust to lunch in the wood?" "Tuesday?--let me see, this is Thursday. Yes, I think so," said Lady Chaloner. Then she gave a cry of dismay. "Oh! no, Maddy, Tuesday is the bazaar; that will never do." "Oh, yes," said the Princess, "all the better. The bazaar doesn't open till half-past five after all, and we can lunch at half-past twelve. It will do us good to be in the fresh air before our labours begin; we shall look all the better for it." "Very well," said Lady Chaloner dubiously. "But then what about the arrangements?" "Can't those be made on Monday?" said the Princess; "and if there are any finishing touches required, Mrs. Birkett and her friends can do them on Tuesday. They won't want to look their best, I daresay," and she laughed again. "Very well," said Lady Chaloner. "Tuesday, then, for Waldlust. I will ask Lord Stamfordham to come." "And I will ask Adela," said the Princess. "Come then, Moricourt," said the Princess, "if you want to rehearse that play before we act it." "Pray do," said Lady Chaloner anxiously. "I am sure people who act always rehearse first." "I am more than willing," said M. de Moricourt, throwing an infinity of expression into his voice and glance as he looked at the Princess. "Some parts especially will require a great deal of rehearsing." And they departed together. "She is so amusin'," said Lady Chaloner to Pateley. "I really don't know anybody that can be more amusin' when she likes." Pateley gave a round, sonorous laugh of agreement, tantamount to a smile of assent in any one else. He wisely did not commit himself to any expression of opinion as to the accomplished wit of the Princess, which at all events as far as he had had opportunity of observing it, did not strike him as being of a very subtle character. CHAPTER XXI