She went at once to Andrew.
"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.