FLIGHT FROM THE PRINCE'S CASTLE 315 



They are all right and charming and smiling and 

 gracious and delightful until the shoe pinches. Ah, 

 there's the rub again. 



One could not trust him either — he was too aloof 

 to trust. A hateful barrier ! That is the worst of 

 growing old, one becomes so suspicious. In the days 

 of my youth I lamented the inexperience which made 

 me distrust myself, and in the days of my age I'm 

 bewailing the experience which causes me to distrust 

 other people. 



Cecily was very diverted when I told her of the 

 Prince's intention to keep her. 



" Think of the headlines in the halfpenny papers ! 



AMAZING SITUATION 



KARBARDAN PRINCE'S INFATUATION 



ENGLISH LADY IMMURED IN CAUCASIAN CASTLE 



The readers won't be able to see the castle, so it will 

 sound all right. They won't know that the feudal 

 stronghold is just a collection of stone hives strung 

 together anyhow." 



" It is no laughing matter," I said. " We are in a 

 real quandary. He does not mean to speed the parting 

 guests, and will not provide pack-horses or telegas. 

 There is nothing for it but to speed ourselves. We 

 had better ride off early to-morrow morning before 

 the house is astir. We could manage for a short time 

 without any kit."- 



" You forget my dressing-case," put in Cecily 

 concernedly. " I cannot carry that, you know. 

 But, perhaps" — thoughtfully — "he would return it 



