"You have not answered my question," he insisted.
"Look here, Courtney," I said, "it seems to me you are infernally
inquisitive to-night."
"Maybe I am--only, I wanted to know something," and he laughed softly.
"Well?"
"I think I know it now," he said.
"Do you?" I retorted.
"Want to make a bet?" he asked.
"I never bet on a certainty," said I.
Courtney laughed. "Neither do I, so here's the wager:--a dinner for
twenty that you and I are in Valeria thirty days from to-night and have
dined with the King and danced with the Princess."
"Done!" said I.
"All I stipulate is that you do nothing to avoid King Frederick's
invitation."
"And the Princess?" I asked.
"I'm counting on her to win me the bet," he laughed.
I picked up the picture and studied it again. The longer I looked the
more willing I was to give Courtney a chance to eat my dinner.
"If the opportunity comes I'll dance with her," I said.
"Of course you will--but will you stop there, I wonder?"