Meanwhile, there had entered to the Prince his faithful valet Charles, a tall, thin, clean-shaven Englishman, some four years his senior. "Well?" asked his Highness sharply casting himself into an easy-chair, and taking another "Petroff." "Got rid of him--eh?" "Yes--but it was difficult. I gave him a couple of sovereigns, and made an appointment to meet him in the bar of the Cecil, in London, next Thursday at four." "Good. That gives us time," remarked the Prince with a sigh of relief. "And about the girl? What have you found out?" "She and her mother dined in the _table-d'hote_ room last night, and took coffee afterwards in the Palm Court. The father is the man who owns the gold-mines in Nevada--worth ten million dollars. Last year he gave half a million dollars to charity, and bought the Bourbon pearls for his wife. Gave eighty thousand pounds for them. She's got them here, a long string twice round her neck and reaches to her waist. She's wearing them to-day, and everybody, of course, thinks they're false." "How foolish these American women are! Fancy wearing pearls of that price in the open street! Why, she might easily be robbed," his master remarked. "But who'd believe they're genuine? They're too big to take a thiefs fancy," replied the faithful Charles. "The Jesups seem fond of jewellery. Miss Mary has a lovely diamond necklet--" "And wore it last night, I suppose?" "Of course. They are newly-rich people, and crowd it all on. Yet, what does it matter? Men like Jesup can easily buy more if they lose it. Why, to have her jewels stolen is only a big advertisement for the American woman. Haven't you seen cases in the paper--mostly at Newport they seem to occur." "The girl is pretty--distinctly pretty, Charles," remarked the Prince slowly, with a philosophic air. "Yes, your Highness. And she'd esteem it a great honour if you spoke to her, I'm sure." Prince Albert pursed his lips. "I think not. These American girls have a good deal of spirit. She'd most probably snub me." "I think not. I passed through the hall five minutes ago, and she was looking you up in the `Almanach de Gotha.'" His Highness started. "Was she?" he cried with quick interest. "Then she evidently knows all about me by this time! I wonder--" and he paused without concluding his sentence. Charles saw that his master was thinking deeply, so he busied himself by putting some papers in order. "She's uncommonly pretty," his Highness declared presently. "But dare I speak to her, Charles? You know what these Americans are." "By all means speak to her. The mother and daughter would be company for you for a few days. You could invite them to go motoring, and they'd no doubt accept," the man suggested. "I don't want the same experience that we had in Vichy, you know." "Oh, never fear. These people are quite possible. Their wealth hasn't spoilt them--as far as I can hear."