Atherton bit his lip, and a spasm of baffled rage distorted his face.
“Your wife!” he snarled.
“The most charming woman in the world,” the waiter assured him, in the silkiest of voices, but with a curious touch of sincerity. “You may perhaps have heard of her,[Pg 22] for she has an international reputation. Her name is Elaine Wilhelm, and she’s sometimes called ‘The Countess!’”
Atherton uttered a shout that was a curious blend of amazement and delight.
“Elaine Wilhelm—The Countess!” he cried. “You don’t mean it! Then you—you are Johann Wilhelm?”
“‘The Count,’ at your service!” murmured the man, rising from his chair and bowing low.
CHAPTER X.
THE COUNT IS WELCOMED ROYALLY.
Atherton dismissed the servants with a peremptory wave of his hand.
“I shan’t need you now,” he said.
Then he turned to his visitor.