Mrs Jefferson started, the poet turned pale. Colonel Estcourt looked at them gravely.
“It is the answer,” he said. “You may come. She will receive us. Who else do you wish to invite?”
“Oh, my husband, if I may,” cried Mrs Jefferson, eagerly, “and Diogenes—he’s so solid and sensible. His imagination never plays tricks with him.”
“Very well,” said Colonel Estcourt, “bring them also.”
The Princess Zairoff was seated in her boudoir reading, as the party filed in, headed by Colonel Estcourt.
She rose and greeted them with the same sweet and gracious manner that had so charmed Mrs Jefferson.
“I know why you are here,” she said, as the little American burst into vivacious explanations. “I am quite ready to do anything Julian wishes. You know—or, perhaps, you do not know—that he trained my clairvoyante faculties long ago. They are natural to me, I suppose; but you do not require to be told that even natural gifts are capable of training and improving to almost any extent.” She turned to Mrs Jefferson. “You have some power,” she said, “you saw me the other night. No one else did.”
Mrs Jefferson looked highly gratified. “Oh, Madame Zairoff,” she cried, “I’d give up everything in the world to have your wonderful gifts.”
“Even Worth’s gowns?” said the princess, smiling. “What about the pleasant vanities we talked so much about?”