John Castlemaine laughed uneasily.
"You are almost as strong in your hatred of alcohol as my daughter, signore," he said. "Personally, I am a very abstemious man. I have closed nearly every public-house on the estate; but I remember my duties as a host."
Ricordo did not reply, but Olive felt how illogical her father's position was.
"But you smoke," went on Mr. Castlemaine, passing him a box of cigars. "I don't think these are bad."
"I am sure they are excellent," said Ricordo, "but I am obliged to smoke only one brand. I had to pay a heavy duty to bring a sufficient stock with me, but I had either to do it, or give up smoking. You will not mind if I smoke this, instead of yours, which I have no doubt are very much better."
"Oh, certainly not, if you wish," said Mr. Castlemaine rather coldly.
Ricordo bowed, and lit a cigar which he had taken from his own case. His refusal either to take whisky or to smoke his host's cigars had caused a feeling of restraint in the party.
"My cigars are a special brand," went on Ricordo. "They are no better than others, I suppose, but I can smoke no others. I imagine the constitution of the Easterns must be peculiar."
He looked at Olive as he spoke, and noted that she was watching him. As their eyes met, she dropped hers. She had not spoken since she entered the room.
"The manners and customs of those who live in the East are, of course, very different from ours. And of course their ideas are different too."