The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-10-26
CHAPTER TX.

| Johns first caller at the Milan was
in a way, a surprise to him. He wa
sitting smoking an after-breakfas
pipe on the following morning, ant
gazing at the telephone directory, wheI
| his bell rang. He opened the door, tt
find the prince of Seyre standing out
| side.
81 pay you very early visit, fear,
| the latter began.
"Not at ALL" John replied, taking the
pipe from his mouth and throwing
open the door. SIT is very good of you
to come and see me-"
The prince followed John into the
little sitting room. He was dressed, as
usual, with scrupulous care. His tie
was fastened with a wonderful pearl
and his fingers were perhaps a trifie
overmanicured. He wore a bunch of
Parma violets in his buttonhole, and he
carried with him very faint but un-
usual perfume, which seemed to John
like the odor of delicate green tea.
1t was just these details, and the slow
ness of his speech, which alone &C
centuated his foreign origin.
SIT occurred to me-" he said, as he
seated himself in an easy chair, 'that
if you are really intending to make this
experiment in town life of which Miss
Maurel spoke, might be of some as
sistance to you. There are certain
matters, quite unimportant in them
selves, concerning which a little adj
vice in the beginning may save you
trouble"
"Very good of you, am sure" John
repeated. "To tell you the truth, l
was just looking through the telephone
directory to see if could come across
the name of a tailor 1 used to have
some things FROM"
eff it pIeases you to place yourself
in my hands," the prince suggested, Il
will introduce you to my own trades
people. have made the selection with
some care. / have, fortunately, an
idle morning, and it is entirely at your
disposal. At half past one I believe
we are both lunching with Miss Maui
REL"
John was conscious of momentary
sense of annoyance. His tete-a-tete
with Louise seemed farther off than
ever. At the princes suggestion, how
ever, he fetched his hat and gloves and
entered the formers automobile, which
was waiting below.
They spent the morning in the neigh
borhood of Bond street, and John had
the foundations of wardrobe more
extensive than any he had ever
dreamed Of possessing. At half past
one they were shown into Louise's
little drawing room. There were three
or four men already present, standing
around their hostess and slipping some
faint yellow cordial from long Vene-
tian glasses.
Louise came forward to meet them,
and made a little grimace as she re-
marked the change in Johns appear
ance.
Honestly, I don't know you, and l
don't believe like you at all !" she ex-
suow dare you transform
yourself into a taiior's dummy in this
fashion?"
sit was done entirely out of respect
for you," John said.
I'm fact" the prince added, "we con-
sidered that we had achieved rather
l success"
II suppose must look upon your eff
tort as a compliment" Louise sighed,
but it seems queer to lose even so
much of you. Shall you take up our
manners and our habits, Mr.. Strange
vey, as easily as you wear our
,lothes?"
"That I cannot promise" he replied.
1.-THE brain should adapt itself at
east as readily as the body" the
,rince remarked. M m ..
NJ. Graillot, who was one of the three
nen present, turned around
"Who is talking platitudes?' he de-
handed. 81 write plays, and that is
ny monopoly. All, it is the prince, 1
eel And our young friend who inter-
upted us at rehearsal yesterday"
Graillot held out his left hand to the
rince and his right to John.
"Mr. Strangewey," he said, Il con-
you! Any person who has
he good fortune to interest Miss Maui
Ell is to be congratulated. Yet must l
,Ok at you and kel myself puzzled. I
ou are not an artist-no? You do
OF paint or writer"
John shook his head.
"Mr. Strangewey's claim to distinc-
on is that he is just an ordinary
an," Louise observed. "Such relief.
ou know, after all you clever people"
John shook hands with everybody {
nd slipped the contents Of the glass
hich had been handed to him. Then I
butler opened the door and an I