supper party to-night for Mr. Strangewey, and I will promise him a
preponderance of your charming sex."

"Am I invited?" Louise inquired.

The prince shook his head.

"Alas, no!"

They passed into a small dining room, and here again John noticed that
an absolute simplicity was paramount. The carpet was of some dark,
almost indistinguishable color. The walls were white, hung with three or
four French etchings in black reed frames. At one end a curved window
looked out upon a vista of green trees and shrubs, and the recess was
completely filled in with what appeared to be almost a grotto of
flowers. The round table, covered with an exquisitely fine cloth, was
very simply laid. There was a little glass of the finest quality, and a
very little silver. For flowers there was only one bowl, a brilliant
patch of some scarlet exotic, in the center.

"A supper party to which I am not invited," said Louise, as she took her
place at the table and motioned John to a seat by her side, "fills me
with curiosity. Who are to be your guests, prince?"

"Calavera and her sprites," the prince announced.

Louise paused for a moment in the act of helping herself to _hors
d'oeuvres_. She glanced toward the prince. He was busy studying the menu
through his eyeglass.

"By her sprites you mean--"

"The young ladies of her wonderful ballet," the prince replied. "I am
also dipping into musical comedy for a few of my guests. Calavera,
however, is to be the _piece de resistance_."

The prince dropped his eye-glass and glanced toward his hostess. For a
moment their eyes met. Louise's lips were faintly curled. It was almost
as if a challenge had passed between them.

"Mr. Strangewey," she said, turning to John, "let me warn you. You are
to meet to-night a woman for whom kings are reported to sigh in vain, at
whose feet the _jeunesse doree_ of the world pours out its riches. Is
it kind of the prince, I wonder, to try and seal your fate so soon?"

John laughed easily. He met the challenge in her eyes and answered it.

"If you are talking of the great Calavera," he said, "she will be far
too wonderful a lady to take any notice of a yokel like myself. And
besides--"

"Besides?" the prince intervened.

"I have only seen her photographs and read of her," John remarked, "but
I don't think she would attract me very much."

They all laughed. Graillot leaned across the table.

"My young friend," he exclaimed, "pray to your presiding genius,