"I am extremely sorry not to have met your daughter," said Robin very politely.
"Oh, but she will be here in a day or two, Prince."
"Unfortunately, we are leaving to-morrow, Mrs. Blithers."
"To-morrow?" murmured Mrs. Blithers, aghast.
"I received a cablegram to-day advising me to return to Edelweiss at once. We are obliged to cut short a very charming visit with Mr. and Mrs. King and to give up the trip to Washington. Lieutenant Dank left for New York this afternoon to exchange our reservations for the first ship that we can—"
"What's this?" demanded Mr. Blithers, abruptly withdrawing his attention from Count Quinnox who was in the middle of a sentence when the interruption came. They were on the point of going out to dinner. "What's this?"
"The Prince says that he is leaving to-morrow—"
"Nonsense!" exploded Mr. Blithers, with no effort toward geniality. "He doesn't mean it. Why,—why, we haven't signed a single agreement—"
"Fortunately it isn't necessary for me to sign anything, Mr. Blithers," broke in Robin hastily. "The papers are to be signed by the Minister of Finance, and afterwards my signature is attached in approval. Isn't that true, Count Quinnox?"
"I daresay Mr. Blithers understands the situation perfectly," said the Count.