Page:Love Insurance - Earl Biggers (1914).djvu/229

204. His afternoon lecture was just finished as Mr. Minot stepped into the shop. A dozen awed housewives from the Middle West were hurrying away to write home on the hotel stationery that they had met a prince. When the last one had gone out Minot stepped forward. "Prince—I've dropped in to warn you. A very angry woman will be here shortly to see you."

The handsome young Persian shrugged his shoulders, and took off the jacket of the native uniform with which he embellished his talks.

"Why is she angry? All my rugs—they are what I say they are. In this town are many liars selling oriental rugs. Oriental! Ugh! In New Jersey they were made. But not my rugs. See! Only in my native country, where I was a prince of the—"

"Yes, yes. But this lady is not coming about rugs. I refer to your ex-wife."

"Ah. You are mistaken. I have never married."

"Oh, yes, you have. I know all about it, There's no need to lie. The whole story is out,