Prince's private secretary. I believe it is hardly fair to take up
his valuable time. Allow me to thank you, sir, FOR PICKING UP MY
FAN."
With a single subtle flash of the eye she swept by him, taking her
companions to the other end of the conservatory. When she turned,
he was gone.
"This was certainly an unexpected climax," said Raymond,
mischievously. "Did you really arrange it beforehand? We leave a
picturesque tramp at the edge of a grave; we pass over six weeks
and a Bridge of Sighs, and hey, presto! we find a private secretary
in a conservatory! This is quite the regular Aladdin business."
"You may laugh," said Maruja, who had recovered her spirits, "but
if you were really clever you'd find out what it all means. Don't
you see that Amita is dying of curiosity?"
"Let us fly at once and discover the secret, then," said Raymond,
slipping Amita's arm through his. "We will consult the oracle in
the stables. Come."
The others followed, leaving Maruja for an instant alone. She was
about to rejoin them when she heard footsteps in the passage they
had just crossed, and then perceived that the young stranger had
merely withdrawn to allow the party to precede him before he
returned to the other building through the conservatory, which he
was just entering. In turning quickly to escape, the black lace of
her over-skirt caught in the spines of a snaky-looking cactus. She
stopped to disengage herself with feverish haste in vain.
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