“And wore it last night, I suppose?”
“Of course. They are newly-rich people, and crowd it all on. Yet, what does it matter? Men like Jesup can easily buy more if they lose it. Why, to have her jewels stolen is only a big advertisement for the American woman. Haven’t you seen cases in the paper—mostly at Newport they seem to occur.”
“The girl is pretty—distinctly pretty, Charles,” remarked the Prince slowly, with a philosophic air.
“Yes, your Highness. And she’d esteem it a great honour if you spoke to her, I’m sure.”
Prince Albert pursed his lips.
“I think not. These American girls have a good deal of spirit. She’d most probably snub me.”
“I think not. I passed through the hall five minutes ago, and she was looking you up in the ‘Almanach de Gotha.’”
His Highness started.
“Was she?” he cried with quick interest. “Then she evidently knows all about me by this time! I wonder—” and he paused without concluding his sentence.
Charles saw that his master was thinking deeply, so he busied himself by putting some papers in order.