"And so I am," Olinski replied. "As soon as I knew you were coming for dinner, I asked Aunt Jane to have one of your favorite desserts prepared--steamed peach roly-poly, with cream sauce," Pat informed him. "Thank you for being so thoughtful and nice," he said under his breath. "Of course, I never allow Pat to touch sweets," said Jane. "Girls of her age should keep their angles as long as possible." "Speaking of angles," Olinski remarked, good-humoredly, "I've often wondered how Prince Matani, who dines out so much, manages to keep his angles." "Oh, the Prince!" said Jane, taken a little unawares. "He is very slender, isn't he?" "And very handsome and distinguished looking," Pat interjected, softly but emphatically. Jane gave a little snort. "I hadn't noticed that particularly," she said, rather coldly, and walked away. It was so unlike Jane's usual tone and manner that Pat looked after her in surprise, and then her anxious eyes met Olinski's. "What is the trouble?" he asked, obviously to draw her out. "Is it possible that your Aunt is unfriendly to the young man with whom you're in love?" She looked at him and laughed softly. "In love with Prince Matani? How amusing." "But he seems to be very much interested in you," said Olinski. "Most girls would consider his attentions a supreme compliment. Is it possible that you're not in love with him?" "I'm almost tempted to tell you," she answered with calm, amused eyes, "but I think I'd better leave you to make your own discoveries, just as you and Uncle Henry are doing about Mars--perhaps you'll get more fun out of it!" And then Orkins announced: "His Highness Prince Matani." III Prince Matani was certainly good-looking and distingué; slender and dark, with an absurdly small black mustache plastered over his rather thick and sensuous lips. Scrupulously dressed for dinner, every detail of him indicated the care he devoted to his person. Bowing formally and stiffly on entering the hall, he looked past us and made a swift movement forward to
Prev.
Back
Top