Have you been presented to her Highness, the--Oh, to be sure.

Of course you have.

Stupid of me." "We met ages ago," she said with an ingenuous smile, which would have disarmed Chase if he had been prepared for anything else.

As a matter of fact, he had approached her in the light of an adventurer who expects nothing and grasps at straws.
"In the dark ages," said he so ruefully that her smile grew.

He had come, in truth, to ascertain why her husband had not come with her.
"But not the forgotten variety, I fancy," said Deppingham shrewdly.
"It would be impossible for the Princess to forget the greatest of all fools," said Chase.
"He was no worse than other mortals," said she.
"Thank you," said Chase.