XXIII
AT THE INN OF THE TWISTED PINES
I lunched with the King and the Princess Dehra as arranged. Frederick left before the coffee, and Dehra ordered it served in her library. When the footman had brought it she dismissed him.
"Now," said she, "come and tell me all about yourself."
I went over and sat on the arm of her chair. She lit a cigarette and put it between my lips—then, lit one for herself.
"Do you remember the first time you did that?" I asked.
"Yes," said she, "it was the night you flirted so outrageously with me in front of Lotzen."
"I don't care what you call it, since we are not flirting now," said I.
She took my hand between hers and smiled up at me.
"And, maybe, it was not all flirting, then," she said.