"There were parts of it I hated," John agreed. "There were passages that seemed to aim at discord in every sense of the word."
She nodded sympathetically. They were on their way down the broad staircase.
"I wonder," she murmured, "whether I am going to be asked out to supper?"
"Alas, not to-night, dear lady," the prince regretted. "I am having a few friends at Seyre House."
She shot a glance at him and shrugged her shoulders. She was evidently displeased.
"How much too bad!" she exclaimed. "I am not at all sure that it is right of you to invite Mr. Strangewey to one of your orgies. A respectable little supper at the Carlton, and a cigarette in my library afterward, would have been a great deal better for both of you—certainly for Mr. Strangewey. I think I shall run away with him, as it is!"
The prince shrugged his shoulders.
"It is unfortunate," he sighed, "but we are both engaged. If you will give us the opportunity some other evening—"
"I am not at all sure that I shall have anything more to do with you, Eugène," she declared. "You are not behaving nicely. Will you come and see me while you are in town, Mr. Strangewey?" she added, turning to John. "I suppose you can be trusted to reach No. 21 Pont Street without your Mephistophelian chaperon?"
"I should like to very much," he replied. "I think," he added, a little hesitatingly, "that I have read one of your books of travel. It is very interesting to meet you."