The Prince glanced over Lady Grace’s mare and turned aside to join Penelope and Somerfield.

“I like the look of my horse, Sir Charles,” he said.  “I think that I shall beat you today.”

“We both start at five to one,” Somerfield answered.  “Shall we have a bet?”

“With pleasure,” the Prince agreed.  “Will you name the amount?  I do not know what is usual.”

“Anything you like,” Somerfield answered, “from ten pounds to a hundred.”

“One hundred,—­we will say one hundred, then,” the Prince declared.  “My mount against yours.  So!”

He threw off his overcoat, and they saw for the first time that he was dressed in English riding clothes of dark material, but absolutely correct cut.

“I must go now and be introduced to the Clerk of the Course,” he said.  “Ah, here is Lady Grace!” he added.  “Come with me, Lady Grace.  Your father is seeing about my entry.  I think that in five minutes the bell will ring.”

Everything was in order, and a few minutes later the Prince came out.  The mare was stripped, and the whole party gathered round to watch him mount.  He swung himself into the saddle without hesitation.  The mare suddenly reared.  Prince Maiyo only smiled, and with loose reins stooped and patted her neck.  He seemed to whisper something in her ear, and she stood for a moment afterwards quite still.  Lady Grace drew a quick breath.

“What did you say to her, Prince?” she asked.  “She is behaving beautifully except for that first start.”

“Your mare understands Japanese, Lady Grace,” the Prince answered, smiling.  “She and I are going to be great friends.  Show me the way, please.  Ah, I follow that other horse!  I see.  Lady Grace, au revoir.  You shall have your cup.”

“Gad, I believe she will!” the Duke exclaimed.  “Look at the fellow ride.  His body is like whalebone.”

The parade in front of the stand was a short one.  The Prince rode by in the merest canter.  The mare made one wild plunge which would have unseated any ordinary person, but her rider never even moved in his saddle.

“I never saw a fellow sit so close in my life,” the Duke declared.  “Do you know, Grace, I believe, I really believe he’ll ride her!”

Lady Grace laughed scornfully.

“I have a year’s allowance on already,” she said, “so you had better pray that he does.  I think it is very absurd of you all,” she added, “because the Prince cares nothing for games, to conclude that he is any the less likely to be able to do the things that a man should do.  He perhaps cannot ride about on a trained pony with a long stick and knock a small ball between two posts, but I think that if he had to ride for his own life or the life of others he would show you all something.”

“They’re off!” the Duke exclaimed.

They watched the first jump breathlessly.  The Prince, riding a little apart, simply ignored the hurdle, and the mare took it in her stride.  They turned the corner and faced an awkward post and rails.  The leading horse took off too late and fell.  The Prince, who was close behind, steered his mare on one side like lightning.  She jumped like a cat,—­the Prince never moved in his seat.