"What do you think of my friend Kondjé-Gul?" she said to me, when we sat
down after a few turns.
"She is remarkably pretty," I replied.
"I suppose you'll ask her for a dance with you?" she continued, with a
smile.
"I shall certainly not fail in this duty to a friend of yours and Miss
Maud's!"
"Miss Maud and I thank you very much for the attention," she said, with
a ceremonious bow; "only," she added, smiling maliciously at me, "I must
prepare you for a disappointment, which you will, no doubt, feel very
much afflicted by--our friend does not dance!"
"What, never?"
"We have given several little parties at my father's rooms, and have
never been able to persuade her to."
"Ah! that's no doubt because she only knows her oriental dances."
"You're quite wrong there! She has taken lessons just as we have, and
waltzes splendidly; but she won't even dance with the professor; it's
always Maud or I who act as her partners. She has some principles on
this subject which appear to be rooted in her, and which we have not yet
succeeded in overcoming."
"If you would help me this evening," I said, "perhaps we can succeed
between us."
"What, is it to be a conspiracy?"
"Quite a friendly one, for you must admit that it is for her own
interest."
"I won't deny it," she replied, with a laugh; "but how are we to force
her?"
Then I noticed poor Kondjé-Gul, who was watching us, and seemed to envy
us.
"Listen!" I said, as if a sudden idea had struck me. "I know of a likely
way."
"Well?"
"Let us take my aunt into our confidence; I see them over there talking
Turkish together. My aunt will perhaps be able to exercise sufficient
influence over your friend to convince her that she may conform to our
usages without committing any offence."
"Yes, that's the way to manage it!" exclaimed Miss Suzannah, in delight.
"Our conspiracy is making progress; but how shall we get at your aunt?"
"Does Mademoiselle Kondjé-Gul understand English?" I asked her.
"No, not a word."
"Then it's a very simple matter," I added. "After this polka I'll take
you back to your seat; you then communicate our scheme to my aunt in
English, and ask for her assistance; I come up, as if by chance, and try
my luck with her for the next waltz."