Nick's remark brought back the remembrance of the day when I left the automobile and discovered the secret of Dhalmatia. The Prince also remembered the occasion but did not betray the slightest emotion.
"You refer to Dr. Wharton as your messenger," said the Prince. "I have not seen him except on the single occasion when he visited my father and me. But I understand that he and my sister Solonika have become great friends."
"Ah, ha," laughed Nick, "and so the cat is out of the bag. He and I are now rivals."
The General permitted his fork to fall heavily upon his plate as he stared at Nick, remembering that young man's flirtation with Princess Teskla, and something akin to a groan escaped him. But Nick only laughed.
"I know nothing of any cat," said the Prince, gravely, with well acted simplicity.
"It is an idiom," explained the General, "which means that you have betrayed your sister's secret."
I straightened up in my chair at the old man's solemn words. Had he purposely touched upon the thing which was making me miserable, or did he do it unconsciously? The Prince's nerve was of iron. He sipped his coffee unmoved, but his eyes never wavered from the General's face as he asked innocently:
"What secret, General Palmora?"
"The secret that Dale, here, is much interested in Solonika."
"Is he?" he asked, sweeping me with his half closed eyes. I was forced to drop mine while I felt the colour rise to my cheeks.