“Well, as he actually is going away,” Sir Charles remarked with a sigh of content, “I suppose it’s no use being jealous.” “You haven’t any reason to be,” Penelope answered just a little wistfully. “Prince Maiyo has no room in his life for such frivolous creatures as women.” The Prince found the rest of the party dispersed in various directions. Lady Grace was playing billiards with Captain Wilmot. She showed every disposition to lay down her cue when he entered the room. “Do come and talk to us, Prince,” she begged. “I am so tired of this stupid game, and I am sure Captain Wilmot is bored to tears.” The Prince shook his head. “Thank you,” he said, “but I must find the Duke. I have just received a telephone message and I fear that I may have to leave tomorrow.” “Tomorrow!” she cried in dismay. The Prince sighed. “If not tomorrow, the next day,” he answered. “I have had a summons--a summons which I cannot disobey. Shall I find your father in the library, Lady Grace?” “Yes!” she answered. “He is there with Mr. Haviland and Sir Edward. Are you really going to waste your last evening in talking about treaties and such trifles?” “I am afraid I must,” he answered regretfully. “You are a hopelessly disappointing person,” she declared a little pitifully. “It is because you are all much too kind to me that you think so,” he answered. “You make me welcome amongst you even as one of yourselves. You forget--you would almost teach me to forget that I am only a wayfarer here.” “That is your own choice,” she said, coming a little nearer to him. “Ah, no,” he answered. “There is no choice! I serve a great mistress, and when she calls I come. There are no other voices in the world for one of my race and faith. The library you said, Lady Grace? I must go and find your father.” He passed out, closing the door behind him. Captain Wilmot chalked his cue carefully. “That’s the queerest fellow I ever knew in my life,” he said. “He seems all the time as though his head were in the clouds.” Lady Grace sighed. She too was chalking her cue. “I wonder,” she said, “what it would be like to live in the clouds.” CHAPTER XXXII. PRINCE MAIYO SPEAKS The library at Devenham Castle was a large and sombre apartment, with high oriel windows and bookcases reaching to the ceiling. It had an unused and somewhat austere air. Tonight especially an atmosphere of gloom seemed to pervade it. The Prince, when he opened the door, found the three men who were awaiting him seated at an oval table at the further end of the room. “I do not intrude, I trust?” the Prince said. “I understood that you wished me to come here.” “Certainly,” the Duke answered, “we were sitting here awaiting your arrival. Will you take this easy chair? The cigarettes are at your elbow.” The Prince declined the easy chair and leaned for a moment against the table. “Perhaps later,” he said. “Just now I feel that you have something to say to me. Is it not so? I talk better when I am standing.”