One of the elegant ladies of the Matriarchal court sidled up to him. "We were presented to each other when you landed," she said in French.
"Of course," he said delightedly. "I remember you perfectly!" But all Martians still looked alike to him.
"I was wondering, Mr. Weems, whether you would care to attend a party I'm giving tomorrow evening. I feel there would be features extremely entertaining to you."
"Delighted, Madame!" He beckoned over Dr. Carewe.
"Your social secretary?" asked the Martian lady. "I'll give her the details."
Then the Karfiness entered regally and all the ladies of the court twiddled their curtailed chelae with deep veneration as she folded up in a basket-like affair.
"Mr. Weems," she said graciously. He advanced and bowed, Earth fashion, for all of his encumbering furs. "Mr. Weems, we are delighted to see you here. Such a refreshing change from those slimy little Venusians!" Her English was perfect, though lispy.
"And I, Madame, am delighted to attend. If there is any message I can take back to Earth from you—any word of friendship, you have only to say it."
She regarded him amiably. "The people of Earth know well that the people of Mars are wholly committed to a policy of amicable industrial cooperation. Nothing will please me more than to reassure my friends of the third planet that there is no end of this policy in sight."
What did that mean? wondered Weems. Was she playing with him?