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privilege of over…looking the Queen Mother's Gardens。〃
It was that speech； uttered with beaming aplomb at a dinner…
table surrounded by the cosmopolitan nobility of the Eternal
City； that had suddenly revealed to Lansing the profound change
in the Hicks point of view。
As he looked back over the four months since he had so
unexpectedly joined the Ibis at Genoa； he saw that the change；
at first insidious and unperceived； dated from the ill…fated day
when the Hickses had run across a Reigning Prince on his
travels。
Hitherto they had been proof against such perils： both Mr。 and
Mrs。 Hicks had often declared that the aristocracy of the
intellect was the only one which attracted them。 But in this
case the Prince possessed an intellect； in addition to his few
square miles of territory； and to one of the most beautiful
Field Marshal's uniforms that had ever encased a royal warrior。
The Prince was not a warrior； however； he was stooping； pacific
and spectacled； and his possession of the uniform had been
revealed to Mrs。 Hicks only by the gift of a full…length
photograph in a Bond Street frame； with Anastasius written
slantingly across its legs。 The Princeand herein lay the
Hickses' undoingthe Prince was an archaeologist： an earnest
anxious enquiring and scrupulous archaeologist。 Delicate health
（so his suite hinted） banished him for a part of each year from
his cold and foggy principality； and in the company of his
mother； the active and enthusiastic Dowager Princess； he
wandered from one Mediterranean shore to another； now assisting
at the exhumation of Ptolemaic mummies； now at the excavation of
Delphic temples or of North African basilicas。 The beginning of
winter usually brought the Prince and his mother to Rome or
Nice； unless indeed they were summoned by family duties to
Berlin； Vienna or Madrid； for an extended connection with the
principal royal houses of Europe compelled them； as the Princess
Mother said； to be always burying or marrying a cousin。 At
other moments they were seldom seen in the glacial atmosphere of
courts； preferring to royal palaces those of the other； and more
modern type； in one of which the Hickses were now lodged。
Yes： the Prince and his mother （they gaily avowed it） revelled
in Palace Hotels； and； being unable to afford the luxury of
inhabiting them； they liked； as often as possible； to be invited
to dine there by their friends〃or even to tea； my dear；〃 the
Princess laughingly avowed； 〃for I'm so awfully fond of buttered
scones； and Anastasius gives me so little to eat in the desert。〃
The encounter with these ambulant Highnesses had been fatal
Lansing now perceived itto Mrs。 Hicks's principles。 She had
known a great many archaeologists； but never one as agreeable as
the Prince； and above all never one who had left a throne to
camp in the desert and delve in Libyan tombs。 And it seemed to
her infinitely pathetic that these two gifted beings； who
grumbled when they had to go to 〃marry a cousin〃 at the Palace
of St。 James or of Madrid； and hastened back breathlessly to the
far…off point where； metaphorically speaking； pick…axe and spade
had dropped from their royal handsthat these heirs of the ages
should be unable to offer themselves the comforts of up…to…date
hotel life； and should enjoy themselves 〃like babies〃 when they
were invited to the other kind of 〃Palace；〃 to feast on buttered
scones and watch the tango。
She simply could not bear the thought of their privations； and
neither； after a time； could Mr。 Hicks； who found the Prince
more democratic than anyone he had ever known at Apex City； and
was immensely interested by the fact that their spectacles came
from the same optician。
But it was； above all； the artistic tendencies of the Prince and
his mother which had conquered the Hickses。 There was
fascination in the thought that； among the rabble of vulgar
uneducated royalties who overran Europe from Biarritz to the
Engadine； gambling； tangoing； and sponging on no less vulgar
plebeians； they； the unobtrusive and self…respecting Hickses；
should have had the luck to meet this cultivated pair； who
joined them in gentle ridicule of their own frivolous kinsfolk；
and whose tastes were exactly those of the eccentric； unreliable
and sometimes money…borrowing persons who had hitherto
represented the higher life to the Hickses。
Now at last Mrs。 Hicks saw the possibility of being at once
artistic and luxurious； of surrendering herself to the joys of
modern plumbing and yet keeping the talk on the highest level。
〃If the poor dear Princess wants to dine at the Nouveau Luxe why
shouldn't we give her that pleasure？〃 Mrs。 Hicks smilingly
enquired； 〃and as for enjoying her buttered scones like a baby；
as she says； I think it's the sweetest thing about her。〃
Coral Hicks did not join in this chorus； but she accepted； with
her curious air of impartiality； the change in her parents'
manner of life； and for the first time （as Nick observed）
occupied herself with her mother's toilet； with the result that
Mrs。 Hicks's outline became firmer； her garments soberer in hue
and finer in material； so that； should anyone chance to detect
the daughter's likeness to her mother； the result was less
likely to be disturbing。
Such precautions were the more needfulLansing could not but
note because of the different standards of the society in which
the Hickses now moved。 For it was a curious fact that admission
to the intimacy of the Prince and his mother who continually
declared themselves to be the pariahs； the outlaws； the
Bohemians among crowned heads nevertheless involved not only
living in Palace Hotels but mixing with those who frequented
them。 The Prince's aide…de…campan agreeable young man of easy
mannershad smilingly hinted that their Serene Highnesses；
though so thoroughly democratic and unceremonious； were yet
accustomed to inspecting in advance the names of the persons
whom their hosts wished to invite with them； and Lansing noticed
that Mrs。 Hicks's lists； having been 〃submitted；〃 usually came
back lengthened by the addition of numerous wealthy and titled
guests。 Their Highnesses never struck out a name； they welcomed
with enthusiasm and curiosity the Hickses' oddest and most
inexplicable friends； at most putting off some of them to a
later day on the plea that it would be 〃cosier〃 to meet them on
a more private occasion； but they invariably added to the list
any friends of their own； with the gracious hint that they
wished these latter （though socially so well…provided for） to
have the 〃immense privilege〃 of knowing the Hickses。 And thus
it happened that when October gales necessitated laying up the
Ibis； the Hickses； finding again in Rome the august travellers
from whom they had parted the previous month in Athens； also
found their visiting…list enlarged by all that the capital
contained of fashion。
It was true enough； as Lansing