thusiasm at being the first man to get in a challenge.
Turning a corner and leading his dog, Mr. J. Blair Eaton came up blandly to the Colonel, with a greeting that for him was more than effusive. Colonel Spottiswoode cut him short.
"Our acquaintance, sir," he said, "began—and ended—last night." Then the Colonel resumed his tramp, while Eaton stood staring.
"Dear me. Dear me. What can be the matter with the fellow?"
When the Colonel turned and started back, Eaton dragged his bulldog around the corner and gave him a vicious kick.
A stir at the head of the stairs attracted Zack's attention, and he ran in to watch the elaborate forerunners of Signorina Aurora's progress to the music room. Zack loved the orderly confusion of a grand entrance at the beginning of the main circus. He watched with open mouth.
First came the maid, Constanza, who bustled into the music room, and with artistic eye chose the divan upon which Aurora would recline. The color scheme must harmonize. Deck stewards brought rugs and shawls, hung toilet bags over the back of Signorina's divan, placed bon-bon dishes, dainty baskets of fruit. Constanza stepped back, surveyed it critically, then a touch here, a pat there, and all was ready.
