anyway?"

Fandor did not need to ask that question of the King. The moment he had
set eyes on him in Raxim's he recognized in the sturdy tippler his
Majesty Frederick-Christian II, King of Hesse-Weimar, on one of his
periodic sprees. It was this fact which had made him break his rule and
indulge freely himself.

With a serious air he explained:

"Sum fides Achates!"

"What's that?" cried the King.

"Exactly."

Susy d'Orsel now thought both men were equally drunk. She fancied they
were having fun with her.

"You know I don't want English spoken here," she said drily.

The King took his mistress round the waist and drew her to him.

"Now don't get angry, my dear, it's only our fun, and besides it's not
English, it's Latin ... bonus ... Latinus ... ancestribus ... the good
Latin of our ancestors!... the Latin of the Kitchen! Cuisinus ...
autobus ... understand?"

Turning to the journalist he stretched out his hand:

"Well, my old friend Achates, I'm jolly glad to meet you."

"Achates isn't a real name," cried Susy, still suspicious.

"Achates," explained Fandor, "is an individual belonging to antiquity
who became famous in his faithful friendship for his companion and
friend, the well-known globe-trotter, AEneas."

"Come and sit down," shouted the King, as he rapped on the table with a
bottle of champagne.

"Hurry up, Susy, a plate and glass for my old friend, whose name I don't
know ... because, you see, he's no more Achates than I am."

"Oh, no, Madame," Fandor hastened to say, "I couldn't think of putting
you to the trouble, besides spoiling the effect of your charming table.
In fact, I am going home in a few moments."

"Not on your life," shouted the King, "you'll stay to the very end."

"Well, then, a glass of champagne, that's all I'll take."

By degrees Susy had become reassured in regard to the young man.
Although slightly drunk, his polite manner and good form pleased her.
She took her place on the divan beside the King. Fandor sat opposite
them and lighted a cigarette.

Suddenly Susy rose from the table.

"Where are you going?" demanded the King.

"I'll be back in a moment ... something must be open. I feel a draught
on my legs."

"Why not show us your legs!" cried Frederick-Christian, and turning to
the journalist added:

"She's built like a statue ... a little marvel."

Susy returned.

"I knew it! The hall door was open. I hope nobody has got in."

The King laughed at the ide