“Mr. De la Borne,” she said, “I think that you have been very unjust and very rude to Major Forrest, who is an old friend of mine.  I am sure that you have been misled, and I am sure that some day you will ask his pardon.”

Andrew bowed slightly, and looked her straight in the face.

“Princess,” he said, “may I ask how long you have known the gentleman who has just left us?”

“For a very great many years,” she answered.  “Why?”

“Are you sure of your own knowledge,” Andrew asked, “that he is really a person of good repute and against whom there have been no scandalous reports?”

“I do not listen to gossip,” the Princess answered.  “Major Forrest goes everywhere in London, and I have seen nothing in his deportment at any time to induce me to withdraw my friendship.”

“I fancy, then,” Andrew said, “that some day you will find you have been a little deceived.”

“What about Lord Ronald?” the Princess asked.  “Perhaps, Mr. De la Borne, you think that we are all a little company of adventurers.  This is such a likely spot for our operations, isn’t it?”

“Lord Ronald,” Andrew said, “is the brother of my old friend, and he is, of course, above suspicion, but Lord Ronald appears to have left you somewhat abruptly, I might almost say mysteriously.”

“He was here for some time,” the Princess said, “and he is coming back.”

“In the meantime,” Andrew continued, “he appears to have vanished from the face of the earth.”

The Princess turned away carelessly.

“That,” she said, “is scarcely our affair.  I have not the slightest doubt but that he will turn up again.”

“If it should turn out that I am mistaken,” Andrew said stiffly, “I should be glad to ask your pardons, but from my present information I can only say I do not care to extend the hospitality of my house to Major Forrest, nor do I consider him a fit associate, madam, for you and your step-daughter.”

“May I ask,” the Princess inquired, “who Major Forrest’s traducers have been?”

“My information,” Andrew answered, “comes from the Duke of Westerham.  I have every reason to believe that the case against him has been understated.”

“The Duke,” Cecil declared, “is a pig-headed old fool!”

Andrew shrugged his shoulders.

“I have always found him a man of remarkably keen judgment,” he said.

“What are you going to do about Jeanne?” the Princess asked, changing the subject abruptly.

“I should suggest,” Andrew answered, “that you have a maid pack a bag and prepare to go with me over to the island early in the morning.  There is no chance to cross before then, as the tide would be high.”

“But how nervous she will be there all alone!” the Princess exclaimed.

“My servant is there,” Andrew answered, “and also an old woman who cooks for me.  They will, I am sure, do everything they can to make her comfortable.  I shall go myself and bring her back here as soon as it is daylight.”