"They are not at all alive," replied Lady Jocelyn, "at least I hope not. I should hate to spend eternity in Harrod's." She paused. "I wonder if there is any chance of your having been followed this morning?" "I don't think so," said Tony. "They probably watched us start, but I took a little tour round Barnet and Hertford before coming here. We didn't see any one following us--did we, Isabel?" Isabel shook her head. "I don't think Da Freitas would try," she said, "not if he has seen you drive. He never wastes his time upon impossibilities." Lady Jocelyn laughed. "My dear," she said gently; "you mustn't make jokes if you want to be taken for a genuine queen. Joking went out of fashion with Charles the Second. Nowadays no Royalty has any sense of humour; indeed in Germany it's regarded as a legal bar to the throne." She turned back to Tony. "Have you heard from your captain yet?" Tony nodded. "I had a wire this morning. He says the _Betty_ can be ready for sea any time after Thursday." "That's the best of being a ship," observed Lady Jocelyn a little enviously. "One has only to paint oneself and take in some food and one's ready to go anywhere. I have to buy clothes, and make my will, and invent some story that will satisfy my brother-in-law the Dean. I promised to go and stay with him next month: and it will have to be a good story, because Deans are rather clever at that sort of thing themselves." "I think it's so kind of you to come with us," observed Isabel simply. "My dear," said Lady Jocelyn, "I couldn't possibly allow you to go away alone on the _Betty_ with Tony and Guy. It would be so bad for the morals of the captain." She pressed the electric bell. "By the way, Tony--is Guy coming, and have you decided yet where you are going to take us?" "Guy's coming all right," replied Tony. "He has gone to the Stores this morning to look through their patent life-saving waistcoats." He helped himself to a glass of Hock. "I thought we might try Buenos Ayres, Aunt Fanny. It's just the right time of year." "I have no objection," said Lady Jocelyn. "I don't know much about it except that you pronounce it wrong, Tony." "It's quite a nice place, I believe," said Tony. "They buy all our best race-horses." There was a brief interval while the parlour-maid, who had just come in, cleared away their plates, and presented them with a fresh course. "I haven't a great number of race-horses to dispose of," observed Lady Jocelyn, when the girl had again withdrawn, "but all the same I shall be very pleased to go to Buenos Ayres. When do you propose to start?" "Whenever you like," said Tony generously. Lady Jocelyn reflected for a moment. "I think I could be ready by to-day week. We oughtn't to be longer than we can help or Da Freitas may find out where you have hidden Isabel."