You can't." But something in the tone of it amused her afresh.

"Do you think you could ?" "I ?" he wondered.
"Do you think you could get it out of her for me--the probable length of her stay ?" He rose bravely enough to the occasion and the challenge.

"I daresay, if you were to give me the chance." "Here it is then for you," she answered; for she had heard, within the minute, the stop of a cab at her door.

"She's back." III It had been said as a joke, but as, after this, they awaited their friend in silence, the effect of the silence was to turn the time to gravity--a gravity not dissipated even when the Prince next spoke.

He had been thinking the case over and making up his mind.