"I believe--in fact, I am almost certain--that I love the woman I have
come to London to see," John declared.

"You get more and more interesting," she murmured. "Don't you realize
that your love for one woman should make you kind to all?"

"No, I don't," he answered bluntly.

"Come," she said, "do not be afraid of me. I will not make love to
you--seriously. You must be kind to me because everybody spoils me.
After supper there are one or two more questions I must ask you. Do you
know that I am going to dance here? Never before have I danced in a
private house in England. Except upon the stage, I like to dance only to
those whom I love!"

The little space between the curtains was suddenly darkened. John turned
eagerly around, and, to his immense relief, recognized the prince.
Their host came forward to where they were sitting, and held out his arm
to Calavera.

"Dear lady," he announced, "supper is served. Will you do me this great
honor?"

She rose to her feet. The prince turned to John.

"This is my privilege as host," he explained; "but if you will follow
us, you will find some consolation in store for you."

XVII

"Well?" the prince asked, as he handed Aida Calavera to her place at his
right hand.

"I think not," she replied.

He raised his eyebrows slightly. For a moment he glanced down the
supper-table with the care of a punctilious host, to see that his guests
were properly seated. He addressed a few trivialities to the
musical-comedy star who was sitting on his left. Then he leaned once
more toward the great dancer.

"You surprise me," he said. "I should have thought that the enterprise
would have commended itself to you. You do not doubt the facts?"

"They are obvious enough," she replied. "The young man is all that you
say, even more ingenuous than I had believed possible, but I fancy I
must be getting old. He tried to tell me that he was in love with
another woman, and I felt suddenly powerless. I think I must be getting
to that age when one prefers to achieve one's conquests with the lifting
of a finger."

The prince sighed.

"I shall never understand your sex!" he declared. "I should have
supposed that the slight effort of resistance such a young man might
make would have provided just the necessary stimulus to complete his
subjection."

She turned her beautiful head and looked at the prince through narrowed
eyes.

"After all," she asked, "