〃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。
  〃He　rides　like　an　Italian；〃　Bransome　declared；　shutting　up　his　glasses。　〃There's　never　a　thing　in　this　race　to　touch　him。　I　am　going　to　see　if　I　can　get　any　money　on。〃
  Another　set　of　hurdles　and　then　the　field　were　out　of　sight。　Soon　they　were　visible　again　in　the　valley。　The　Prince　was　riding　second　now。　Somerfield　was　leading；　and　there　were　only　three　other　horses　left。　They　cleared　a　hedge　and　two　ditches。　At　the　second　one　Somerfield's　horse　stumbled；　and　there　was　a　suppressed　cry。　He　righted　himself　almost　at　once；　however；　and　came　on。　Then　they　reached　the　water　jump。　There　was　a　sudden　silence　on　the　stand　and　the　hillside。　Somerfield　took　off　first；　the　Prince　lying　well　away　from　him。　Both　cleared　it；　but　whereas　Lady　Grace's　mare　jumped　wide　and　clear；　and　her　rider　never　even　faltered　in　his　saddle；　Somerfield　lost　all　his　lead　and　only　just　kept　his　seat。　They　were　on　the　homeward　way　now；　with　only　one　more　jump；　a　double　set　of　hurdles。　Suddenly；　in　the　flat；　the　Prince　seemed　to　stagger　in　his　saddle。　Lady　Grace　cried　out。
  〃He's　over；　by　Jove！〃　the　Duke　exclaimed。　〃No；　he's　righted　himself！〃
  The　Prince　had　lost　ground；　but　he　came　on　toward　the　last　jump；　gaining　with　every　stride。　Somerfield　was　already　riding　his　mount　for　all　he　was　worth；　but　the　Prince　as　yet　had　not　touched　his　whip。　They　drew　closer　and　closer　to　the　jump。　Once　more　the　silence　came。　Then　there　was　a　little　cry；both　were　over。　They　were　turning　the　corner　coming　into　the　straight。　Somerfield　was　leaning　forward　now；　using　his　whip　freely；　but　it　was　clear　that　his　big　chestnut　was　beaten。　The　Prince；　with　merely　a　touch　of　the　whip　and　riding　absolutely　upright；　passed　him　with　ease；　and　rode　in　a　winner　by　a　dozen　lengths。　As　he　cantered　by　the　stand；　they　all　saw　the　cause　of　his　momentary　stagger。　One　stirrup　had　gone；　and　he　was　riding　with　his　leg　quite　stiff。
  〃You've　won　your　money；　Grace；〃　the　Duke　declared；　shutting　up　his　glass。　〃A　finely　ridden　race；　too。　Did　you　see　he'd　lost　his　stirrup？　He　must　have　taken　the　last　jump　without　it。　I'll　go　and　fetch　him　up。〃
  The　Duke　hurried　down。　The　Prince　was　already　in　the　weighing　room　smoking　a　cigarette。
  〃It　is　all　right；〃　he　said　smiling。　〃They　have　passed　me。　I　have　won。　I　hope　that　Lady　Grace　will　be　pleased。〃
  〃She　is　delighted！〃　the　Duke　exclaimed；　shaking　him　by　the　hand。　〃We　all　are。　What　happened　to　your　stirrup？〃
  〃You　must　ask　your　groom；〃　the　Prince　answered。　〃The　leather　snapped　right　in　the　flat；　but　it　made　no　difference。　We　have　to　ride　like　that　half　the　time。　It　is　quite　pleasant　exercise；〃　he　continued；　〃but　I　am　very　dirty　and　very　thirsty。　I　am　sorry　for　Sir　Charles；　but　his　horse　was　not　nearly　so　good　as　your　daughter's　mare。〃
  They　made　their　way　toward　the　stand；　but　met　the　rest　of　the　party　in　the　paddock。　Lady　Grace　went　up　to　the　Prince　with　outstretched　hands。
  〃Prince；〃　she　declared；　you　rode　superbly。　It　was　a　wonderful　race。　I　have　never　felt　so　grateful　to　any　one　in　my　life。〃
  The　Prince　smiled　in　a　puzzled　way。
  〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　a　great　pleasure　and　a　very　pleasant　ride。　You　have　nothing　to　thank　me　for　because　your　horse　is　a　little　better　than　those　others。〃
  〃It　was　not　my　mare　alone；〃　she　answered；〃it　was　your　riding。〃
  The　Prince　laughed　as　one　who　does　not　understand。
  〃You　make　me　ashamed；　Lady　Grace；〃　he　declared。　〃Why；　there　is　only　one　way　to　ride。　You　did　not　think　that　because　I　was　not　English　I　should　fall　off　a　horse？〃
  〃I　am　afraid；〃　the　Duke　remarked　smiling；　〃that　several　Englishmen　have　fallen　off！〃
  〃It　is　a　matter　of　the　horse；〃　the　Prince　said。　〃Some　are　not　trained　for　jumping。　What　would　you　have；　then？　In　my　battalion　we　have　nine　hundred　horsemen。　If　I　found　one　who　did　not　ride　so　well　as　I　do；　he　would　go　back　to　the　ranks。　We　would　make　an　infantryman　of　him。　Miss　Morse；〃　he　added；　turning　suddenly　to　where　Penelope　was　standing　a　little　apart。　〃I　am　so　sorry　that　Sir　Charles'　horse　was　not　quite　so　good　as　Lady　Grace's。　You　will　not　blame　me？〃
  She　looked　at　him　curiously。　She　did　not　answer　immediately。　Somerfield　was　coming　towards　them；　his　pink　coat　splashed　with　mud；　his　face　scratched；　and　a　very　distinct　frown　upon　his　forehead。　She　looked　away　from　him　to　the　Prince。　Their　eyes　met　for　a　moment。
  〃No！〃　she　said。　〃I　do　not　blame　you！〃
  CHAPTER　XXX。　INSPECTOR　JACKS　IMPORTUNATE
  They　were　talking　of　the　Prince　during　those　few　minutes　before　they　separated　to　dress　for　dinner。　The　whole　of　the　house…party；　with　the　exception　of　the　Prince　himself；　were　gathered　around　the　great　open　fireplace　at　the　north　end　of　the　hall。　The　weather　had　changed　during　the　afternoon；　and　a　cold　wind　had　blown　in　their　faces　on　the　homeward　drive。　Every　one　had　found　comfortable　seats　here；　watching　the　huge　logs　burn；　and　there　seemed　to　be　a　general　indisposition　to　move。　A　couple　of　young　men　from　the　neighborhood　had　joined　the　house…party；　and　the　conversation；　naturally　enough；　was　chiefly　concerned　with　the　day's　sport。　The　young　men；　Somerfield　especially；　were　inclined　to　regard　the　Prince's　achievement　from　a　somewhat　critical　standpoint。
  〃He　rode　the　race　well　enough；〃　Somerfield　admitted；　〃but　the　mare　is　a　topper；　and　no　mistake。　He　had　nothing　to　do　but　to　sit　tight　and　let　her　do　the　work。〃
  〃Of　course；　he　hadn't　to　finish　either；〃　one　of　the　newcomers；　a　Captain　Everard　Wilmot；　remarked。　〃That's　where　you　can　tell　if　a　fellow　really　can　ride　or　not。　Anyhow；　his　style　was　rotten。　To　me　he　seemed　to　sit　his　horse　exactly　like　a　groom。〃
  〃You　will；　perhaps；　not　deny　him；〃　the　Duke　remarked　mildly；　〃a　certain　amount　of　courage　in　riding　a　strange　horse　of　uncertain　temper；　over　a　strange　country；　in　an　enterprise　which　was　entirely　new　to　him。〃
  〃I　call　it　one　of　the　most　sporting　things　I　ever　heard　of　in　my　life；〃　Lady　Grace　declared　warmly。
  Somerfield　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  〃One　must　admit　that　he　has　pluck；〃　he　remarked　critically。　〃At　the　same　time　I　cannot　see　that　a　single　effort　of　this　sort　entitles　a　man　to　be　considered　a　sportsman。　He　doesn't　shoot；　nor　does　he　ever　ride　except　when　he　is　on　military　service。　He　neither　plays　games　nor　has　he　the　instinct　for　them。　　A　man　without　the　instinct　for　games　is　a　fellow　I　cannot　understand。　He'd　never　get　along　in　this　country；　would　he；　Wilmot？〃
  〃No；　I'm　shot　if　he　would！〃　that　young　man　replied。　〃There　must　be　something　wrong　about　a　man　who　hasn't　any　taste　whatever　for　sport。〃
  Penelope　suddenly　intervenedintervened；　too；　in　somewhat　startling　fashion。
  〃Charlie；〃　she