silver box on the table. Then, lighting it, he handed the box
courteously to his son.

"Will you smoke, Humphry?"

"Thanks, Sir,--no."

The King seated himself; Prince Humphry remained standing.

"You had a favourable wind for your expedition today;" said the monarch
at last, beginning to smoke placidly--"I observe that The Islands
appear to have won special notice from you. What is the attraction? The
climate or the scenery?"

The Prince was silent.

"I like fine scenery myself,--" continued the King--"I also like a
change of air. But variation in both is always desirable,--and for
this, it is unwise to go to the same place every day!"

Still the Prince said nothing. His father looked up and studied his
face attentively, but could guess nothing from its enigmatical
expression.

"You seem tongue-tied, Humphry!" he said--"Come, sit down! Let us talk
this out. Can you not trust me, your father, as a friend?"

"I wish I could!" answered the young man, half inaudibly.

"And can you not?"