Part 64 (1/2)
Korynthia, rising, advanced to meet them; first she greeted Bethsaba as the married woman, then she turned to Zeneida. Zeneida forestalled her greeting.
”You forestall me!” exclaimed the Princess. ”Of course, _queens_ ever give the first greeting.”
”Not so, Princess; but they who desire to offer their congratulations on their hostess's name-day.”
And the two ladies shook hands. They knew that every eye was upon them, wondering how they would meet.
Both were well-seasoned warriors.
The ballroom was so arranged that all about were small groves of exotics, with openings just large enough for a couple to retreat into, and talk scandal or flirt, as the case might be. Little tables were there placed, and footmen went in and out handing refreshments.
Korynthia drew Zeneida into one of these floral retreats, and, as they sat down together, whispered laughingly into her ear:
”You understood me. I expected no less from your clever intellect.”
Zeneida, adopting her tone, replied in equally laughing voice.
”That I have brought you the dove out of her nest?”
”Just so--that we have thus become allies?” resumed the Princess.
”An alliance _ad hoc_, in the language of diplomacy,” interpreted Fraulein Ilmarinen.
”For the object of discomfiting a third adversary,” filled in Korynthia.
”And meanwhile England and Russia have signed defensive and offensive alliance--”
”In order, as allied powers, to conquer Paris,” laughed Korynthia.
”The same Paris who keeps the golden apple, in order to give it to--whom?” exclaimed Zeneida, with a peal of silvery laughter.
”You are a demoniacal woman!”
”That I know. Your Highness has said it already.”
”How you remember everything! But, to change the subject, three of your admirers are here to-night. We will soon settle the third of them. See, your little _protegee_ is already absorbed. Her former admirer, Chevalier Galban, has caught her like a spider in his web. Do not be uneasy about her; she will not go back heart-whole. We will see to that.
We understand one another!”
”Perfectly, Princess.”
”No harm to her! All loss is gain to her, but I do not think it will be her last conquest. For any one who has _begun_ as has my G.o.ddaughter, it requires no great sagacity to prophesy how she will _go on_. No need for us to grieve about her.”
”Nor in such a case can we show any mercy.”
”So, for the present, peace is concluded between us! After that, war to the knife.”
”I first pull down my flag.”
”Oh, that is only tactics, Fraulein Ilmarinen. Women never capitulate.
That we both know too well. Do you know, I have never had opportunity to see you so close, though I have been so curious to get a good view of you. Tell me, do you dye your hair with saffron to make it such a lovely gold color?”