Transcriber’s Note
Table of Contents created by Transcriber and placed in the Public Domain.
A Prince To Order
A PRINCE
TO ORDER
A NOVEL
BY
CHARLES STOKES WAYNE
JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD
NEW YORK AND LONDON MCMV
Copyright, 1904
By Charles Stokes Wayne
Copyright, 1905
By John Lane
SET UP AND ELECTROTYPED BY
WILLIAM G. HEWITT, NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A.
PRINTED BY
THE CAXTON PRESS, NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A.
TO MY WIFE
WHO, AS THE INSPIRATION, EXCITED THE IMPULSE AND
FURNISHED THE INCENTIVE FOR ITS PRODUCTION,
THIS TALE IS AFFECTIONATELY
DEDICATED
A Prince To Order
I
Grey’s awakening was as gradual as aclouded dawn. For a time dreamsand realities intermingled. Thenslowly a partial consciousness of hisphysical being obtruded: his fingers wereclutching a silken coverlet; he turned on hisside and the linen pillow-case was cool to hischeek; through half-open eyelids a sweep of paleblue became visible. Later he realised that he wasin a curtained bed and that the blue was the colourof the draperies. He lay still for a long while—drowsy,inert, his sensibilities numb. Presentlythe ticking of a clock became audible, and then arumble of street sounds. At the same moment athrobbing pain in his head asserted itself. Withan effort he sat up, his hands pressed against his2temples, his mind groping. Then in a flash theunfamiliarity of his surroundings aroused himsuddenly, sharply, like a cold plunge, and his braincleared a trifle. His memory went staggeringback after the night before; but the mists descendedagain and the way grew dark, and hecould remember no night without its morning.
He put his feet to the floor and stood up, but adizziness overcame him, and he sank backupon the bed, weak and limp. His heart wasbeating tumultuously and his breath came in short,quick gasps.