s got it
into his head----"

Donovan lay back and closed his eyes.

"My heart isn't up to the strain," he said. "I'd rather leave the
affair in your hands."

"All right," said Gorman. "I'll see it through."

"Thank you. It's asking a good deal, I know."

"Not at all," said Gorman cheerfully. "I shall probably enjoy it."

CHAPTER XVII

Captain von Moll thought that a certain assertion of dignity was due
to his position as a naval officer. He was to dine with two Americans,
no doubt vulgar representatives of a nation which did not understand
class distinctions and the value of a von before a surname. He had no
idea of being friendly. The dinner was an official affair. He was for
the moment the representative of the Emperor. He dressed himself with
great care in a uniform resplendent with gold braid. He combed and
brushed his beard into a state of glossiness. He twisted the ends of
his moustache into fine points. He reflected that if the American girl
were really enormously wealthy and if, which he doubted, her manners
were tolerable, it might be worth while to marry her. He would, no
doubt, lose caste to some extent if he did so; but her money would be
very useful to him and it would be unnecessary afterwards to see much
of the girl herself. He rubbed on his head a strongly scented
preparation guaranteed to give a shine to the dullest hair. He went
ashore in a boat rowed by six men. A flag drooped from the staff at
the stern, just touching the water with its lowest corner.

Gorman received him in the large hall of the palace.

"Mr. Donovan, I presume," said Captain von Moll. "It gives me pleasure
to meet you."

Gorman explained who he was and said that Donovan was unable to be
present at dinner owing to the condition of his heart. Von Moll said
that he derived equal pleasure from meeting Mr. Gorman. Then the Queen
swept into the hall, followed by Kalliope. She was dressed in a
pale-blue gown which glittered with sequins. She wore a diamond star
in her hair. She walked slowly and held herself very erect. Kalliope,
walking behind her, added to the dignity of her entrance.

Von Moll stepped forward, stood in the middle of the floor, clicked
his heels together and bowed low. The Queen, ignoring him for the
moment, shook hands warmly with Gorman and welcomed him to Salissa.
Then she held out her hand to von Moll. He bent over it and touched it
with his lips.

"I have to tender an apology," he said. "Thi