Evening star., 1925-07-29

'Why should they have "A dinner
to themselves?" Cornelius Blum ex-
claimed. turning to Rose Lancaster
Il will give a dinner party tomorrow
night. / invite everybody. ! have
some other friends, over at Nice. /
will wire for them. Prince Lutrecht
and his wife shall come | will spend
the whole Of tomorrow arranging It,
i cannot equal this festival. but | will
see what can be done. Accept quickly,
please, every one of you"
There was a little affirmative
chorus. Cornelius Blum looked
across at Gertrude. She set her lips
and shook her head.
II shall not give up my own
dinner" she decared, defiantly. "and
l decline to let Mr. Slattery Off"
Very well" Blum acquiesced good
humoredly. II shall either alter the
date of mine or it shall be an opposi-
ton. 7 shall probably have refine
ments which have never been thought
Of before. L shall have the roof re-
moved from the Hotel de Paris for a
quarter of an hour only and presents
dropped down from aeroplanes for
every one. I shall have Mademoiselle
Lebrun from Nice to sing to us and
Coquinet to tell us stories. shall"
Don't give it all away Gertrude
interrupted. "If you are trying to
tempt me, | am quite firm. If you
give your dinner tomorrow night,
shall dine with Mr.. Slattery"
MY attitude towards your husband
in this matter" Blum declared. will
be one of panied but remorseful
silence"
80 long as it really is silence, ="
Gertrude laughed.
'I have ordered rpffaa nd
on deck" Grant announced. We are
just entering the bay and the moon
Is up. You ladies may need your
wraps but il is quite warm
They trooped up the companionway.
Grant looked for Susan. but she had
hurried on with young Lancaster On
deck they found that they We're
already headed for the narrow open
ing between the red and green lamps
of the harbor. The great sweep of
the bay was outlined by a glittering
arc of lights; the towering hillside in
the background was bespangIed with
little points of fire. The Casino fiared
out in front. The moon, yeIlower and
fuller at every moment, seemed to
give a note almost of artifciality TO
the little scene; they could even hear
the sound of music from the open
windows of the concert room. Susan
and Lancaster found their way into
Nhe bows and stood watching the
phosphorus. Lymane brought coffee
70 Gertrude where she sat close to
the rail.
do you really mean it about to-
morrow he asked.
"Of course l do. Why not?''
You were not engaged to dine with
Grant Slattery," he complained. You
made that up"
What if did" she answered
coolly. Mr.. Slattery is an old friend,
he is very amusing and he talks about
things that interest me-"
Don't 10" he demanded
ITO be quite frank, you don't she
confessed. You are very young, you
know. and you think because you are
private secretary TO the prime minis
ter that you have to wrap yourself in
a mantle of impenetrable reserve
I'm positively Ill at ease talking to
you. I am so afraid that / shall ask
something which will provoke one of
your diplomatic replies"
He leaned a little nearer to her.
Come out to supper with me to-
night" he begged.
"And III talk about anything you
like in the world"
Supper. tonight" she repeated. a
little obviously. But sha'nt we be
tired?"