He made his way at once to Mrs.Bollington Smith and bent over her fingers.
"It is so kind of you and Lord Dorminster," he said, "to give me this opportunity of saying good-by to a few friends." "You are leaving us so soon, Prince ?" "To-morrow, soon after dawn," he replied, his eyes wandering around the little circle.

"I wish to be in Pekin, if possible, by Wednesday, so my _Dragon_ must spread his wings indeed." He said a few words to almost everybody.

Last of all he came to Maggie, and no one heard what he said to her.

There was no change in his face as he bent low over her fingers, no sign of anything which might have passed between them, as a few minutes later he turned to one side with Nigel.

Maggie held out her hand to Chalmers.