Part 17 (1/2)
Lingard shook his head in denial.
”Poor girl,” said Mrs. Travers. ”Are they all so pretty?”
”Who-all?” mumbled Lingard. ”There isn't an other one like her if you were to ransack the islands all round the compa.s.s.”
”Edith!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mr. Travers in a remonstrating, acrimonious voice, and everyone gave him a look of vague surprise.
Then Mrs. Travers asked:
”Who is she?”
Lingard very red and grave declared curtly:
”A princess.”
Immediately he looked round with suspicion. No one smiled. D'Alcacer, courteous and nonchalant, lounged up close to Mrs. Travers' elbow.
”If she is a princess, then this man is a knight,” he murmured with conviction. ”A knight as I live! A descendant of the immortal hidalgo errant upon the sea. It would be good for us to have him for a friend.
Seriously I think that you ought--”
The two stepped aside and spoke low and hurriedly.
”Yes, you ought--”
”How can I?” she interrupted, catching the meaning like a ball.
”By saying something.”
”Is it really necessary?” she asked, doubtfully.
”It would do no harm,” said d'Alcacer with sudden carelessness; ”a friend is always better than an enemy.”
”Always?” she repeated, meaningly. ”But what could I say?”
”Some words,” he answered; ”I should think any words in your voice--”
”Mr. d'Alcacer!”
”Or you could perhaps look at him once or twice as though he were not exactly a robber,” he continued.
”Mr. d'Alcacer, are you afraid?”
”Extremely,” he said, stooping to pick up the fan at her feet. ”That is the reason I am so anxious to conciliate. And you must not forget that one of your queens once stepped on the cloak of perhaps such a man.”
Her eyes sparkled and she dropped them suddenly.
”I am not a queen,” she said, coldly.
”Unfortunately not,” he admitted; ”but then the other was a woman with no charm but her crown.”