“No, indeed,” Gretna protested. “You could not be so disagreeable, having brought the subject up. I am consumed with curiosity. Who is she?”

“Well, if I don’t tell you the story, I expect someone else will,” Sir Harry replied. “You have heard of the Mistress Eloise Jenkins, haven’t you?”

“The actress!” Gretna exclaimed. “Why, we are going to see her at the Drury Lane Playhouse this very evening.”

“After you have seen her, perhaps I will tell you the story,” Sir Harry suggested.

“No, no, tell me now. It will make my visit all the more – interesting.”

Sir Harry had to be pressed, but finally the story came out.

Julien had fallen in love with Mistress Eloise Jenkins when she first appeared in London. It was the fashion at the time for all the smart young men, and especially those who surrounded the Prince, to be in love with play-actresses.

The Prince himself was enamoured with Mistress Perdita Robinson and they all vowed to the object of their affections that their love was for ever and undying.

“To tell the truth I think Julien only half-believed his protestations,” Sir Harry said, “but he was convinced that Eloise adored him. She certainly went out of her way to persuade everyone that her heart was deeply engaged.”

“How did she do – that?” Gretna asked.

“Oh, she paraded about with him as if there was no other man in the world. She even turned down the Prince, so the buzz goes, on one occasion just because Julien asked her to do so. Then, when they were drowning in affection, he had to go abroad.”

“Why did he have to leave England?” Gretna enquired.

“He was involved in an affair of great moment,” Harry Carrington confided. “Nobody knows quite the truth of what happened. But it was whispered that the Prince was challenged to a duel and Julien took his place.”

“That would be like him,” Gretna commented without thinking.

“He is a gamester,” Sir Harry agreed. “And he has always stood up for the Prince. Nobody dares say a word against His Royal Highness in Julien’s hearing. Anyway it was the on dit that he deputised for the Prince and killed his man.”

“Killed him!” Gretna exclaimed in horror.

“Yes, indeed. And from all reports it was unnecessary to wear the willow. The dead man was an outsider all right. Stands to reason that he must have been if he challenged the Prince to a duel.”

“So what happened then?”

“Well, Julien skipped off abroad until the unpleasantness blew over. They say the Prince was extremely grateful to him and did everything he could to smooth things for him. But, of course, the relatives of the dead man kicked up a bit of bother.”

“Which is hardly surprising,” Gretna murmured.

Sir Harry shrugged his shoulders.

“It is all forgotten now and, if you ask me, Julien could have come back sooner than he did, except maybe he was enjoying himself.”