"Why didn't you tell me before ?" Hunterleys shook his head.

He gazed steadfastly along the road in front of him.
"It wasn't to my interest to have it known too generally," he said, "and I am afraid your little love affair didn't strike me as being of much importance by the side of the other things.

But you've earned the truth, if it's any use to you." "Well," Richard observed, "I wasn't counting on having any witnesses, but you can come along if you like.

I suppose," he added, "I shall have to do him the courtesy of asking his permission, but--" "But what ?" Hunterleys asked curiously.
They were on a long stretch of straight, white road.

Richard looked for a moment up to the sky, and Hunterleys, watching him, was amazed at the transformation.
"There isn't a Grand Duke or a Prince or an Imperial Majesty alive," he said, "who could rob me of Fedora!".