Evening star., 1932-12-14

4 a transformed to accommodate
the sales headquarters OF the
Europa car The enormous show WIN
dows, which gave so pleasantly on the
vide beauty of the avenue. afforded
an excellent view of the Arc de
Triomphe, while at the same time dis
playing a discreet choice of fabulousiy
extensive motor cars to the passerby,
and above the gray and silver expanse
of these show rooms Alacia Sayers had
established a little private office.
An hour after young Santini's amaz-
ing revelation about the Prince dor
SAINT she entered this Office and found
the last Of the Grand Dukes PerWJoskl
with his heels on his desk and his nose
IN the newest copy of La Vie Parisienne;
At the sound of her entrance the grano
blushing like any guilty ONCE boy;
swung his heels from the desk ana
clicked them together as he bowed
formal greeting.
Good morning, Valdy!" Alacia said
eayly, the happiness OF her mornings
adventure still flooding her with con-
tagious good nature. rs there any.
thing in that paper shouldn't see? II
40 give 1t to me at once!" The Grand
Duke Vladimir Alexis Perwjoski blushed
again to the very roots of his rather
thin brown hair. and unconsc1ousiy
stratphtened his already perfect tie.
Il look merely at picture OF leetie
dog by the so clever Djon!" he salo
''In Russia 1 had. before the revolu-
tion, an original drawing by him. ihat
was at my shootingbox at DorskloV, on
the Black Sea-"
"Uhuh! III bet it was lovely" said
Alacia. generously. for she was IN
mood to tolerate even thin-worn rem-
niscences of Russias former grandeur
After all. Valdy was an awfully nice
fellow and once the uncomfortable or
deal of offering grand duke SAY a
week had been got over with, Sne nao
found him q treasure. His social con-
rections all over Europe and IN Eng
land had proved invaluable in building
M the prestige of the Europas name
and he was, besides. veritaole NINE
of information while the runhg M an
important province had given MN an
executive training of no mean Value.
As she passed to her inner sanctum
Alaeia laid a hand lightly on his snoui-
der in a comradely. affectionate 1aSnlor
".f,lst moment" she said. and Wen
have a conference. Send me MISS Du-
carte, will you?" 49, ,.
But when the swarthy little dactyio
had displayed the mornings CORE
spondence and been dismissed. Alacla
suddenly realizing that it was not ABOUT
business that she wished to consuiI
him Let the details on that speclai
hodv for the Concourse dElegance AZ
Cannes wait! Whoreally cared whether
fhe Young Emperor Of Siam were car
rted to his coronation IN a europa OF
not? Who cared, even, II the straps
around the great throbbing hood OF the
mighty racing model destined 1or tne
Grand Prix de Monaco were TO oe plack
or pea green? She leaned across ner
desk, impulsive and eager; t. nretender
e tine French throne?" she asked, con-
scions Of an uncomfortable futter IN her
voice. -,
expectedly.
aAre there more than one?"
put naturally" he said. There Is
che Bourbon lot; I know them intl-
mately. of course. Nice people. And
then there are the Bonapartes. But.
items, the haven't . following. ana
d'Or3ant."
she asked tensely.
personally" he said. "But, Of course, I
know about him in a general sort OF
: way. The house is poor. my dear!
Put utterly poverty-stricken! And yet
Young Armande actually refuses to &C
cept one penny from his adherents-an
unheard-of attitude! You see, the
trouble with the boy is. If you Will Tor
give my saying SO, my dear Alaclska,
that he has some American Dlood IN
him. and Of course, this weakens MS
party-that and his own lack OF actiVe
Interest"
what do you mean by that?" she
asked. DO yon mean he doesn't want
to be king?"
my dear Alaciska. don't quote me as
saving sol" the grand duke protested.
"But I must tell you right now that II
you are thinking to use any OF these
Royalists in an advertising way Tor the
Europa, 1t Is q bad business. Tnelr IN
dorsement will do more hurt than GOOD.
Remember, they are only a small, un-
popular party in France, ike we poor
Russians!"
4 wasn't thinking Of advertising ex-
aetly," she admitted. "I-well, Ia neard
of this Prince d'Orsant, that's al:
What does he work at? Do you knoW!
The grand duke shrugged.
He occasionally drives motor race,
I believe" he said He even drove
winning Bugatti once at some big course
d'auto. But, ah! A thought! Here, in
deed, you might use him for publicity.
II he drove for you, eh? At Monte
Carlo? Personally. I think he might
be better than your mothers selection
o. a driver"
NV mothers selection!" exclaimed
Alacia, her mind temporarily diverted
70 this new development. But my
mother has nothing to do with deciding
who shall drive the Prix de Monaco!
fpr hof matter That's
up to the technical department.
But madame has made a selection!
insisted the Russian.
"Really?" Alacia demanded, bewil-
dered who on earth did she select?"
Alfredo Santini.'' replied the grand
ment Alacia was so astonished that she
was unable to reply.
Are YOU sure?' she asked at length.
.-rhe. only Alfredo Santini know of is
Q gigolo." .,.,a..,.r
that. I believe" he answered. He may
dance as well, but he has driven pro-
fessionally. And, Alaciska, l may be
wrong. but I believe his reputation on
the race, track is not quite-well, per-
haps- I'm unfair. Certainly nothing
has ever been proved against him. But
I was surprised when madame ordered
the racing car turned over to him to be
broken in"
"What?" the girl exclaimed incred-
ulously, 1.-The car has actually been
aiyen to him?" She was on her feet
now, q vague disturbance which had
long been dormant In her mind fore
ing itself unpleasantly to the surface.
while the grand dukes reply uncon-
sciously confirmed her fears.
Il should not have said that" Valdy
was ssaying regretfully, because ne
seems to be . great friend to your
mother" ~
"Oh!" said she, determined not to
betray her mistress. Well, after ALL