"My dear Udo, I'm so delighted to see you again. Don't turn your back on old friendships just because you have found a nobler and a truer—— Oh, very well, if you're going to drop all your former friends, go on then. But when I'm married, there will always be a place for——"
"Understand once and for all," said Udo angrily, "that I am not getting married. No, don't take my arm—we can talk quite well like this."
"I am sorry, Udo," said Coronel meekly; "we seem to have made a mistake. But you must admit we found you in a very compromising position."
"It wasn't in the least compromising," protested Udo indignantly. "As a matter of fact I was just telling her about that dragon I killed in Araby last year."
"Ah, and who would listen to a hopeless story like that, but the woman one was going to marry?"
"Once more, I am not going to marry her."
"Well, you must please yourself, but you have compromised her severely with that story. Poor innocent girl. Well, let's forget about it. And now tell me, how do you like Euralia?"
"I am returning to Araby this afternoon," said Udo stiffly.
"Well, perhaps you're right. I hope that nothing will happen to you on the way."
Udo, who was about to enter the Palace, turned round with a startled look.