“Peuh!”
“She meets my needs.”
“She’s so housemaid.... I hardly know...!” the Queen raised beautiful hands bewildered.
“Très gutter, ma’am,” the Countess murmured dropping her voice to a half-whisper.
“She saves us from cliché,” the Prince indignantly said.
“She saves us from nothing,” his mother returned. “Oh, Yousef, Yousef. And what cerné eyes, my son. I suppose you were gambling all night at the Château des Fleurs?”
“Just hark to the crowds!” the Prince evasively said. And never too weary to receive an ovation, he skipped across the room towards the nearest window, where he began blowing kisses to the throng.
“Give them the Smile Extending, darling,” his mother beseeched.
“Won’t you rise and place your arm about him, Madam,” the Countess suggested.
“I’m not feeling at all up to the mark,” her Dreaminess demurred, passing her fingers over her hair.