We expect him this evening."
"You'll probably be disappointed then," Lady Carey remarked, "for
he's going to join us at the opera. Run and change your gown.
I'll wait."
"Are you sure that the Prince will be there?" Lucille asked.
"Certain."
"Then I will come," she said, "if the Duchess will excuse me."
The Duchess and Lady Carey were left alone for a few minutes.
The former put down her knitting.
"Why do we keep that woman here," she asked, "now that Brott has
broken away from her altogether?"
Lady Carey laughed meaningly.
"Better ask the Prince," she remarked.
The Duchess frowned.
"My dear Muriel," she said, "I think that you are wrong to make such
insinuations. I am sure that the Prince is too much devoted to our
cause to allow any personal considerations to intervene."
Lady Carey yawned.
"Rats!" she exclaimed.
The Duchess took up her knitting, and went on with it without remark.
Lady Carey burst out laughing.
"Don't look so shocked," she exclaimed. "It's funny. I can't help
being a bit slangy. You do take everything so seriously. Of course
you can see that the Prince is waiting to make a fool of himself
over Lucille. He has been trying more or less all his life."
"He may admire her," the Duchess said. "I am sure that he would
not allow that to influence him in his present position.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225