"Accept, by all means," interrupted her Highness. "He is a capital
horseman." She smiled mysteriously. Happily her companion was
absorbed in thought and did not see this smile.
Max came in at quarter of ten, went to tub, and came down in time for
the eggs.
"Have a good ride?" I asked.
"Bully! Beautiful country!" He was enthusiastic.
"How these healthy animals eat!" I thought as I observed him
occasionally.
"Wish I could go with you," I said, but half-heartedly.
"I'll get the lay of the land quick enough," he replied.
The rascal! Not a word about the girl that morning, or the next, or
until Thursday morning. If only I had known! But Fate knows her
business better than I do, and she was handling the affair. But long
rides of a morning with a pretty girl are not safe for any bachelor.
Thursday morning he came in late. He dropped something on the table.
On inspection I found it to be a woman's handkerchief purse.
"Where the deuce did you get that?" I asked, mighty curious.
"By George! but I've been enjoying the most enchanting adventure; such
as you read out of a book. I'm inclined to believe that I shall enjoy
my studies in old Barscheit."
"But where did you get this?" If there was a girl around, I wanted to
know all about it.
"She dropped it."
"_She_ dropped it!" I repeated. "What she? Why, you old tow-head,
have you been flirting at this hour of the morning?"
"Handsome as a picture!"
"Ha! the ideal at last,"--ironically. "Blonde, of course."
"Dark as a Spaniard, and rides like Diana." His enthusiasm was not to
be lightly passed over.
"Never heard of Diana riding," said I; "always saw her pictured as
going afoot."
"Don't be an ass! You know very well what I mean."
"I've no argument to offer, nor any picture to prove my case. You've
had an adventure; give it up, every bit of it."
"One of the finest horsewomen I ever saw. Took a wall three feet high
the other morning, just to see if I dared follow. Lucky Dandy is a
hunter, or I'd have broken my neck."
"Very interesting." Then of a sudden a thought flashed through my head
and out again. "Anybody with her?"
"Only myself these three mornings."
"H'm! Did you get as far as names?"
"Yes; I told her mine. Who is Hildegarde von Heideloff?"
"Heideloff?" I was puzzled. My suspicions evaporated. "I can't say
that I know any one by that name. Sure it was Heideloff?"
"Do you mean to tell me," with blank astonishment, "that there is a
petticoat on horseback in this duchy that you do not know?"