For a few seconds I did not speak. Then I said, "Are you trying to break it to me that the match is arranged?"
"And I told you I knew she wasn't. But that isn't to say the mother, the woman 'as hard as iron and cold as steel,' hasn't planned her daughter's future, a girl so young, and always kept under control."
"It looks as if the wind was setting in that quarter. A person of Lady Vale-Avon's type would hardly accept such an invitation if she didn't intend something to come of it."
"You're certain the invitation's been accepted?"
"Certain. Angèle de la Mole has been with her brother in Spain, and Lady Monica's been asking her advice about what to take and what to wear. The Duke himself is in Paris, buying a new automobile; at least, so his mother says; but other people say he's at Monte Carlo. Anyhow, he's expected here in time for the ball."
"Didn't I tell you? A masked ball the old Duchess is giving in honour of Princess Ena. A grand affair it will be, says de la Mole. There's been jealousy about the invitations, which have been carefully weeded."
"Sometimes a man must make a chance. I shall meet Lady Monica at the Duchess's ball."
"All right. Suppose you go in the garb of a palmer?"
"I was thinking of another first meeting, case not dissimilar, you know, Romeo and Juliet. My poor, mad friend, there's more hope for a Montague with a Capulet than for a Casa Triana with a friend of the future Queen of Spain, and the daughter of a Lady Vale-Avon."
"It wasn't exactly a fortunate marriage. See here, if you're going in for the part of Romeo, it's no good asking me to play Mercutio."
I looked at Dick and smiled. "I shall ask nothing," I said. "Yet--"
"Yet, you know mighty well, if you want a Mercutio, I'll be ready to take up the rôle at a moment's notice all for the sake of your _beaux yeux_. Well, you're right. There's something queer about you, Ramón, which makes us others glad to do what we can, even if it were to cost our lives. If you'd been a king in exile, you'd have had no trouble in finding followers. From your French valet to your Russian soldiers; from your English chauffeur to your American friend, it's pretty well the same. I expect you'll get to that masked ball."