with her "Whenever madame is ready—"
Carmelita heard the whir of motors, the sliding of brakes, and the shouts of mixed voices in the drive below. Lucy's golfing guests had returned.
With the aid of the nimble-fingered Yvonne Carmelita dressed with painstaking care and in the end she was quite well satisfied with the result. Her simple black evening gown suited her brunette beauty admirably. Although her dressing had occupied considerable time, none of the others were there when she appeared in the living room. She walked out upon the broad piazza and was idly watching a slim white yacht scudding along in the first breezes of the evening out upon the ruffled waters of the Sound when she became aware of some one near her. She turned her face a little. Then she uttered a startled little gasp of mingled surprise and incredulity. The man wore a pure white turban that seemed to blend with his dark face and evening clothes. Prince Rao-Singh!
He came up to her then, a polite smile of, greeting upon his thin lips. She had not recovered from the effects of her surprise and hardly knew what to say.
"Ah, Mrs. Drake," he said, "truly an unexpected pleasure."
"Please forgive me for seeming so upset,"
