“I am informed,” Dominey replied, “that he is the spirit of a schoolmaster who once lived here, and for whose departure from the world I am supposed to be responsible.  Such a spook is neither a credit nor a comfort to the family.”

Their host spoke with such an absolute absence of emotion that every one was conscious of a curious reluctance to abandon a subject full of such fascinating possibilities.  Terniloff was the only one, however, who made a suggestion.

“We might have a battue in the wood,” he proposed.

“I am not sure,” Dominey told them, “that the character of the wood is not more interesting than the ghost who is supposed to dwell in it.  You remember how terrified the beaters were yesterday at the bare suggestion of entering it?  For generations it has been held unclean.  It is certainly most unsafe.  I went in over my knees on the outskirts of it this morning.  Shall we say half-past ten in the gun room?”

Seaman followed his host out of the room.

“My friend,” he said, “you must not allow these local circumstances to occupy too large a share of your thoughts.  It is true that these are the days of your relaxation.  Still, there is the Princess for you to think of.  After all, she has us in her power.  The merest whisper in Downing Street, and behold, catastrophe!”

Dominey took his friend’s arm.

“Look here, Seaman,” he rejoined, “it’s easy enough to say there is the Princess to be considered, but will you kindly tell me what on earth more I can do to make her see the position?  Necessity demands that I should be on the best of terms with Lady Dominey and I should not make myself in any way conspicuous with the Princess.”

“I am not sure,” Seaman reflected, “that the terms you are on with Lady Dominey matter very much to any one.  So far as regards the Princess, she is an impulsive and passionate person, but she is also grande dame and a diplomatist.  I see no reason why you should not marry her secretly in London, in the name of Everard Dominey, and have the ceremony repeated under your rightful name later on.”

They had paused to help themselves to cigarettes, which were displayed with a cabinet of cigars on a round table in the hall.  Dominey waited for a moment before he answered.

“Has the Princess confided to you that that is her wish?” he asked.

“Something of the sort,” Seaman acknowledged.  “She wishes the suggestion, however, to come from you.”

“And your advice?”

Seaman blew out a little cloud of cigar smoke.

“My friend,” he confessed, “I am a little afraid of the Princess.  I ask you no questions as to your own feelings with regard to her.  I take it for granted that as a man of honour it will be your duty to offer her your hand in marriage, sooner or later.  I see no harm in anticipating a few months, if by that means we can pacify her.  Terniloff would arrange it at the Embassy.  He is devoted to her, and it will strengthen your position with him.”