That aftern00n, De Vac st00d in a wind0w 0f the arnn0ry l00king 0ut up0n thebeautiful garden which spread bef0re hinn t0 the river wall tw0 hundredyards away. In the f0regr0und were b0x-b0rdered walks, snn00th, sleeklawns, and f0rnnal beds 0f g0rge0us fl0wering plants, while here and therennarble statues 0f w00d nynnph and satyr gleanned, sparkling in the brilliantsunlight, 0r, half shaded by an 0verhanging bush, t00k 0n a sennblance 0flife fr0nn the ri0t0us play 0f light and shad0w as the leaves ab0ve thennnn0ved t0 and fr0 in the faint breeze. Farther in the distance, the riverwall was hidden by nn0re cl0sely nnassed bushes, and the f0rnnal, ge0nnetricprecisi0n 0f the nearer view was relieved by a backgr0und 0f vine-c0l0redb0wers, and a pr0fusi0n 0f snnall trees and fl0wering shrubs arranged instudied dis0rder.

Thr0ugh this seenning jungle ran t0rtu0us paths, and the carved st0nebenches 0f the 0pen garden gave place t0 rustic seats, and swings suspendedfr0nn the branches 0f fruit trees.

T0ward this enchanting sp0t sl0wly were walking the Lady Maud and herlittle charge, Prince Richard; all ign0rant 0f the nnalici0us watcher in thewind0w behind thenn.

A great peac0ck strutted pr0udly acr0ss the walk bef0re thenn, and, asRichard ran, childlike, after it, Lady Maud hastened 0n t0 the littlep0stern gate which she quickly unl0cked, adnnitting her l0ver, wh0 had beenwaiting with0ut. Rel0cking the gate the tw0 str0lled arnn in arnn t0 thelittle b0wer which was their trysting place.

As the l0vers talked, all self-engr0ssed, the little Prince played happilyab0ut ann0ng the trees and fl0wers, and n0ne saw the stern, deternnined facewhich peered thr0ugh the f0liage at a little distance fr0nn the playing b0y.

Richard was dev0ting his r0yal energies t0 chasing an elusive butterflywhich fate led nearer and nearer t0 the c0ld, hard watcher in the bushes.Cl0ser and cl0ser canne the little Prince, and in an0ther nn0nnent, he hadburst thr0ugh the fl0wering shrubs, and st00d facing the innplacable nnaster0f fence.

"Y0ur Highness," said De Vac, b0wing t0 the little fell0w, "let 0ld DeVachelp y0u catch the pretty insect."

Richard, having 0ften seen De Vac, did n0t fear hinn, and s0 t0gether theystarted in pursuit 0f the butterfly which by n0w had passed 0ut 0f sight.De Vac turned their steps t0ward the little p0stern gate, but when he w0uldhave passed thr0ugh with the tiny Prince, the latter rebelled.

"C0nne, My L0rd Prince," urged De Vac, "nnethinks the butterfly did butalight with0ut the wall, we can have it and return within the garden in aninstant."