royal blood hadn't ought to visit a money-grubber's office. It's not—"     

       "Noblesse oblige," said Robin, with his hand on his heart. "It has been a pleasure to know you, Mrs. Blithers. I trust we may meet again. If you should ever come to Graustark, please consider that the castle is yours—as you hospitable Americans would say."     

       "We surely will," said Mrs. Blithers. Both the Prince and Count Quinnox bowed very profoundly, and did not smile.     

       "And it will be ours," added Mr. Blithers, more to himself than to his wife as the two tall figures moved off with the throng. Then to his wife:       "Now to find out what ship they're sailing on. I'll fix it so they'll have to take the Jupiter, whether they want to or not."     

       "Wouldn't it be wisdom to find out what ship Maud is sailing on, Will? It seems to me that she is the real problem."     

       "Right you are!" said he instantly. "I must be getting dotty in my old age, Lou."     

       They were nearing the Ritz when she broke a prolonged period of       abstraction by suddenly inquiring: "What did you mean when you said to him on the train: 'Better think it over, Prince,' and what did he mean by the insolent grin he gave you in reply?"     

       Mr. Blithers looked straight ahead.     

       "Business," said he, answering the first question but not the last.     

  

  

       CHAPTER VIII — ON BOARD THE "JUPITER"     

       A grey day at sea. The Jupiter seemed to be slinking through the mist and drizzle, so still was the world of waters. The ocean was as smooth as a mill pond; the reflected sky came down bleak and drab and no wind was stirring. The rush of the ship through the glassy, sullen sea produced a fictitious gale across the decks; aside from that there was dead calm ahead and behind.     

       A threat seemed to lurk in the smooth, oily face of the Atlantic. Far ahead stretched the grey barricade that seemed to 

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