but the elder Drake made no effort to introduce them. In his enthusiasm, Dudley judged, his uncle had forgotten his manners.
"Carmelita will be delighted to see you," invited Dudley and held the door open for them. Carmelita stood in the center of the living-room wondering what was keeping her husband talking out there, for she had not heard the butler's message to Dudley. She had been putting Rao-Singh's necklace into a suitable box for mailing.
At the sight of one of the two visitors she uttered a delighted, incredulous, quite Spanish squeal of welcome that set her husband's nerves to tingling anew. Rushing past Sanford Drake, she hurled her arms and her slim, vibrant body upon the man to whom Sanford Drake had neglected to introduce his nephew, as if to demolish him with the ferocity of her greeting. And the recipient of her bearlike caresses seemed just as ferocious and Spanish in response.
Then Dudley heard her cry, "Father!" and he understood. When at last she released him, Don Caesar de Cordoba was a little embarrassed. His cravat was awry for one thing. And he was not used to giving way to such unseemly demonstrations of affection. Carmelita had become quite American in her attitude toward him. Where was the revered
