"Isn't mother a _dear_!" exclaimed Ann Sherrill joining them. "After
ragging me _desperately_ for days about Keela, until I threatened to
kill myself, and giving me an _exceedingly_ horrid little book on the
advisability of curbing one's most _interesting_ impulses, she's taken
her under her wing to-night and they're excellent friends. Philip,
dear, go unruffle Dick. He's _horribly_ fussed up about something or
other. Carl, I want you to meet Keela. It's the most _interesting_
thing I've dared in ages and Dad's been very decent about it. Dad
always _did_ understand me. He has a sense of humor."
Diane and Carl followed, laughing, at her heels. Ann presently found
her mother and Keela and unaware of the astonished interest in Carl's
eyes, presented him.
"The Black Palmer!" said Keela naively.
"Lady of Gold and Black!" said Carl and bowed profoundly.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE RECKONING
The reckoning of Ronador and the Baron came by the cypress pool.
"It is useless to rave and storm," said Tregar quietly. "I hold the
cards."
"Was it necessary to humiliate me in the presence of Miss Westfall?"
demanded Ronador bitterly. With all his sullenness there was in his
tone a marked respect for the older man.
"It was necessary to end this romantic masquerade!" insisted Tregar.
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