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igure was buttoned up in a tight…waisted fashion that rather accentuated his potential bulk； and he wore a red flower in his buttonhole。 Of the two men walking behind one was also bald； but in a more partial and also a more premature fashion； for his drooping mustache was still yellow； and if his eyes were somewhat heavy it was with languor and not with age。 It was Horne Fisher； and he was talking as easily and idly about everything as he always did。 His always did。 His companion was a more striking； and even more companion was a more striking； and even more sinister； figure； and he had the added importance of being Lord Bulmer's oldest and most intimate friend。 He was generally known with a severe simplicity as Mr。 Brain； but it was understood that he had been a judge and police official in India； and that he had enemies； who had represented his measures against crime as themselves almost criminal。 He was a brown skeleton of a man with dark； deep； sunken eyes and a black mustache that hid the meaning of his mouth。 Though he had the look of one wasted by some tropical disease； his movements were much more alert than those of his lounging companion。
〃It's all settled；〃 announced the lady； with great animation； when they came within hailing distance。 〃You've all got to put on masquerade things and very likely skates as well； though the prince says they don't go with it； but we don't care about that。 It's freezing already； and we don't often get such a chance in England。〃
〃Even in India we don't exactly skate all the year round；〃 observed Mr。 Brain。
〃And even Italy is not primarily associated with ice；〃 said the Italian。
〃Italy is primarily associated with ices；〃 remarked Mr。 Horne Fisher。 〃I mean with ice cream men。 Most people in this country imagine that Italy is entirely populated with ice cream men and organ grinders。 There certainly are a lot of them； perhaps they're an invading army in disguise。〃
〃How do you know they are not the secret emissaries of our diplomacy？〃 asked the prince； with a slightly scornful smile。 〃An army of organ grinders might pick up hints； and their monkeys might pick up all sort of things。〃
〃The organs are organized in fact；〃 said the flippant Mr。 Fisher。 〃Well； I've known it pretty cold before now in Italy and even in India； up on the Himalayan slopes。 The ice on our own little round pond will be quite cozy by comparison。〃
Juliet Bray was an attractive lady with dark hair and eyebrows and dancing eyes； and there was a geniality and even generosity in her rather imperious ways。 In most matters she could command her brother； though that nobleman； like many other men of vague ideas； was not without a touch of the bully when he was at bay。 She could certainly command her guests； even to the extent of decking out the most respectable and reluctant of them with her mediaeval masquerade。 And it really seemed as if she could command the elements also； like a witch。 For the weather steadily hardened and sharpened； that night the ice of the lake； glimmering in the moonlight； was like a marble floor； and they had begun to dance and skate on it before it was dark。
Prior's Park； or； more properly； the surrounding district of Holinwall； was a country seat that had become a suburb； having once had only a dependent village at its doors； it now found outside all its doors the signals of the expansion of London。 Mr。 Haddow； who was engaged in historical researches both in the library and the locality； could find little assistance in the latter。 He had already realized； from the documents； that Prior's Park had originally been something like Prior's Farm； named after some local figure； but the new social conditions were all against his tracing the story by its traditions。 Had any of the real rustics remained； he would probably have found some lingering legend of Mr。 Prior； however remote he might be。 But the new nomadic population of clerks and artisans； constantly shifting their homes from one suburb to another； or their children from one school to another； could have no corporate continuity。 They had all that forgetfulness of history that goes everywhere with the extension of education。
Nevertheless； when he came out of the library next morning and saw the wintry trees standing round the frozen pond like a black forest； he felt he might well have been far in the depths of the country。 The old wall running round the park kept that inclosure itself still entirely rural and romantic； and one could easily imagine that the depths of that dark forest faded away indefinitely into distant vales and hills。 The gray and black and silver of the wintry wood were all the more severe or somber as a contrast to the colored carnival groups that already stood on and around the frozen pool。 For the house party had already flung themselves impatiently into fancy dress； and the lawyer； with his neat black suit and red hair； was the only modern figure among them。
〃Aren't you going to dress up？〃 asked Juliet； indignantly shaking at him a horned and towering blue headdress of the fourteenth century which framed her face very becomingly； fantastic as it was。 〃Everybody here has to be in the Middle Ages。 Even Mr。 Brain has put on a sort of brown dressing gown and says he's a monk； and Mr。 Fisher got hold of some old potato sacks in the kitchen and sewed them together； he's supposed to be a monk； too。 As to the prince； he's perfectly glorious； in great crimson robes as a cardinal。 He looks as if he could poison everybody。 You simply must be something。〃
〃I will be something later in the day；〃 he replied。 〃At present I am nothing but an antiquary and an attorney。 I have to see your brother presently； about some legal business and also some local investigations he asked me to make。 I must look a little like a steward when I give an account of my stewardship。〃
〃Oh； but my brother has dressed up！〃 cried the girl。 〃Very much so。 No end； if I may say so。 Why he's bearing down on you now in all his glory。〃
The noble lord was indeed marching toward them in a magnificent sixteenth…century costume of purple and gold； with a gold…hilted sword and a plumed cap； and manners to match。 Indeed； there was something more than his usual expansiveness of bodily action in his appearance at that moment。 It almost seemed； so to speak； that the plumes on his hat had gone to his head。 He flapped his great； gold…lined cloak like the wings of a fairy king in a pantomime； he even drew his sword with a flourish and waved it about as he did his walking stick。 In the light of after events there seemed to be something monstrous and ominous about that exuberance； something of the spirit that is called fey。 At the time it merely crossed a few people's minds that he might possibly be drunk。
As he strode toward his sister the first figure he passed was that of Leonard Crane； clad in Lincoln green； with the horn and baldrick and sword appropriate to Robin Hood； for he was standing nearest to the lady； where； indeed； he might have been found during a disproportionate part of the time。 He had displayed one of his buried talents in the matter of skating； and now that the skating was over seemed disposed to prolong the partnership。 The boisterous Bulmer playfully made a pass at him with his drawn sword； going forward with the lunge in the proper fencing fashion； and making a somewhat too familiar Shakespearean quotation about a rodent and a Venetian coin。
Probably in Crane also there was a subdued excitement just then； anyhow； in one flash he had drawn his own sword and parried； and then suddenly； to the surprise of everyone； Bulmer's weapon seemed to spring out of his hand into the air and rolled away on the ringing ice。
〃Well； I never！〃 said the lady； as if with justifiable indignation。 〃You never told me you could fence； too。〃
Bulmer put up his sword with an air rather bewildered than annoyed； which increased the impression of something irresponsible in his mood at the moment； then he turned rather abruptly to his lawyer； saying：
〃We can settle up about the estate after dinner； I've missed nearly all the skating as it is； and I doubt if the ice will hold till to…morrow night。 I think I shall get up early and have a spin by myself。〃
〃You won't be disturbed with my company；〃 said Horne Fisher； in his weary fashion。 〃If I have to begin the day with ice； in the American fashion； I prefer it in smaller quantities。 But no early hours for me in December。 The early bird catches the cold。〃
〃Oh； I sha'n't die of catching a cold；〃 answered Bulmer； and laughed。
A considerable group of the skating party had consisted of the guests staying at the house； and the rest had tailed off in twos and threes some time before most of the guests began to retire for the night。 Neighbors； always invited to Prior's Park on such occasions； went back to their own houses in motors or on foot； the legal and archeoological gentleman had returned to the Inns of Court by a late train； to get a paper called for during his consultation with his client； and most of the other guests were drifting and lingering at various stages on their way up to bed。 Horne Fisher； as if to deprive himself of any excuse for his refusal of early rising； had been the first to retire