in the morning?" following up his advantage.
She patted his shoulder and said nothing.
The deep throaty voice of Prince Rao-Singh broke in upon them from the other side of Carmelita. He was addressing Lucy.
"I would be greatly honored, Mrs. Hodge, if your guests would all come to my house a little later. I have some excellent wines and other curiosities that should interest Americans. Merely a suggestion, of course."
The invitation met with instant favor. Most of the party had heard of the bizarre, richly Oriental character of the Prince's establishment, but nobody had ever been there. They were for the moment a bit satiated with the jazz the dance club offered and were keen for anything that promised a new thrill. As for Lucy, she did not like this almost whispered tête-à-tête between Dudley Drake and Carmelita and the light in their young eyes, and with all her prerogative as hostess she heartily seconded the Prince's invitation.
"We won't go?" Dudley pleaded sotto voce to Carmelita.
"Oh, we shall have to—I'm the guest of honor, you know. I can't run away."
The Prince was out of earshot, searching for Carmelita's wrap.
"I don't like trotting about with this Hindu,
