“The man asked questions,” Soto continued. “We spoke English so badly that he was puzzled. He went away, but he will come again.”
The Prince smiled, and laid his hand almost caressingly upon the other’s shoulder.
“It is of no consequence, Soto,” he said,—“no consequence whatever.”
CHAPTER XIV. AN ENGAGEMENT
“Your rooms, Prince, are wonderful,” Penelope said to him. “I knew that you were a man of taste, but I did not know that you were also a millionaire.”
He laughed softly.
“In my country,” he answered, “there are no millionaires. The money which we have, however, we spend, perhaps a little differently. But, indeed, none of my treasures here have cost me anything. They have come to me through more generations than I should care to reckon up. The bronze idol, for instance, upon my writing case is four hundred years old, to my certain knowledge, and my tapestries were woven when in this country your walls went bare.”
“What I admire more than anything,” the Duchess declared, “is your beautiful violet tone.”
“I am glad,” he answered, “that you like my coloring. Some people have thought it sombre. To me dark colors indoors are restful.”