Hyacinth was silent a little; after which he remarked, 'This is nothing, here. You should have seen me the other day over at Broome, at Lady Marchant's.'
'Gad, did she take you there? I'd have given ten pounds to see it. There's no one like her!' cried the Captain, gaily, enthusiastically.
'There's no one like me, I think—for going.'
'Why, didn't you enjoy it?'
'Too much—too much. Such excesses are dangerous.'
'Oh, I'll back you,' said the Captain; then, checking their pace, he inquired, 'Is there any chance of our meeting her? I won't go into the park.'
'You won't go to the house?' Hyacinth demanded, staring.
'Oh dear, no, not while you're there.'
'Well, I shall ask the Princess about you, and have done with it, once for all.'
'Lucky little beggar, with your fireside talks!' the Captain exclaimed. 'Where does she sit now, in the evening? She won't tell you anything except that I'm a nuisance; but even if she were willing to take the trouble to throw some light upon me it wouldn't be of much use, because she doesn't understand me herself.'
'You are the only thing in the world then of which that can be said,' Hyacinth returned.
'I dare say I am, and I am rather proud of it. So far as the head is concerned, the Princess is all there. I told you, when I presented you, that she was the cleverest woman in Europe, and that is still my opinion. But there are some mysteries you can't see into unless you happen to have a little heart. The Princess hasn't, though doubt-
