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Popova, writing under dictation, sent a message to Morovenia to the effect that they had been compelled to wait a week in order to get comfortable rooms on a steamer. Kalora had the dressmakers working night and day.
They knew that Kalora weighed less than one hundred and twenty pounds. She was tall, lithe, slender, sinuous, willowy, hideous. The fact that poor old Count Malagaski had made many unsuccessful attempts to fatten her was a stock subject for jokes of an unrefined and Turkish character.
Kalora was the elder of the two. She had come to the alarming age of nineteen and no one had started in bidding for her. In court circles, where there is much time for idle gossip, the most intimate secrets of an important household are often bandied about when the black coffee is being served. The marriageable young men of Morovenia had learned of the calamity in Count Malagaski's family.
Now, the Secretary had lived in modern capitals for many years, was trained in diplomacy, and had schooled himself never to appear surprised. But the Princess Kalora fairly bowled him over. He had pictured her as a wan and waxen creature, who would be carried to the hotel in a closed carriage or ambulance, there to recline by the windowside and look out at the rustling leaves.
He told the minister that his child was disposed to be unruly and that Popova had become careless and somewhat indefinite in his reports and would he, the minister, please write and let an anxious parent know the actual weight of Princess Kalora? The minister resented this manner of request.
His sudden journey to the western hemisphere and his period of residence at Washington had been punctuated with surprises, but the amazement which smote him when he saw Kalora leaning across the table toward the young man who had introduced the gin fizz into Morovenia was sudden and shocking. Mr.
There was a sound as when the air-brake is disconnected, and number two curled over limply on the ground and made faces in an effort to resume breathing. Mr. Pike picked up his magazine and put it under his coat. He buttoned the coat, smiled in a pale, but placid manner at Kalora, who was still immovable with terror, and then he proceeded to vindicate his "prep school" training.
Pike suddenly felt himself caressed by three happy mortals. "I shall make you a Knight of the Gleaming Scimitar," said the Governor-General. "I have the authority." "Thanks," replied Mr. Pike. "And we can have a double wedding," exclaimed Jeneka, whose ecstasy was almost apoplectic. "We shall be married in Washington," said Kalora decisively.
Whereas Jeneka would recline for hours at a time on a shaded veranda, munching sugary confections that were loaded with nutritious nuts, Kalora showed a far-western preference for pickles and olives, and had been detected several times in the act of bribing servants to bring this contraband food into the harem. Worse still, she insisted upon taking exercise.
The English were flattered. Count Malagaski was buoyed by new hopes and the daughters were in a day-and-night flutter, for neither of them had ever come within speaking distance of the real young man of their dreams. On the morning of the day set apart for the début of Kalora, Count Selim went to her apartments, and, with a rather shamefaced reluctance, gave his directions.
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