The King is Dead by Ellery Queen Page B

while he plotted the destruction of the revolutionary régime in our country and his return there, which would mean eventually his elevation to the overturned throne. Claudel had never laid eyes on Kane Bendigo; it was a minor matter to the Bendigos, handled through agents and bankers in Paris.
    â€˜Meanwhile, Kane stood over me paying no attention whatever. It was a cold-blooded display, and the restaurant had fallen silent — that horrible public silence which undresses you and leaves you no place to hide.
    â€˜Claudel said nervously, “Monsieur, I spoke hastily, perhaps. But you must realize, Monsieur — you have not been presented—”
    â€˜And, without looking up at him, Kane said, “Present me.”
    â€˜Whereupon, even paler, Prince Claudel did so.’
    â€˜Since this is a romance,’ grinned Ellery, ‘I suppose you slapped his face and swept out of the restaurant.’
    â€˜No,’ said Karla dreamily, ‘for this was a realistic romance. I knew the source of our family’s support and I had undergone too much privation during the war to jeopardize it over a breach of etiquette. Besides, he was so handsome. And his breach had, after all, been committed over me … But then he made it very difficult for me to remain flattered.’
    â€˜What did he do?’ asked the Inspector.
    â€˜He ordered all non-red-haired women out of the restaurant.’
    â€˜He what ?’
    â€˜He passed a law, Inspector Queen. Only red-haired women, he decreed in a penetrating voice, should be allowed. And he summoned the maître and ordered the poor man to escort all brunette, blonde, and grey-haired ladies from the premises. The maître wrung his hands and hurried off, while Kane stood by my chair with perfect calmness. The restaurant, of course, was in an uproar.
    â€˜I was furious with him. I was about to rise and leave when the Baroness dug her claws into my arm and hissed at me, whispering something about the Prince. I glanced at my cousin and I could see that he was about to do something suicidally heroic. Poor Claudel! He’s had such a hard time of it. So I had to pretend to be amused, and I smiled up at the tall author of the scene and acted as if I were enjoying myself. As, secretly, I was.’
    Karla laughed again, from deep in her throat. ‘The maître returned with the manager. The manager wrung his hands, too. Monsieur was obviously jesting … it was of a truth impossible … these distinguished personages … But Monsieur very calmly said that he was not jesting in the least. There was room in the planetary system, he said, for only one sun, which at its most beautiful, he reminded the manager, was of the colour red. All non-red-haired women must leave at once.
    â€˜The manager threw up his hands and sent for the owner of the restaurant. The owner came and he was adamant. It could not be done, the owner said with respect but firmness. Such an act would be not merely immoral and unprecedented, it would be commercial suicide. He would instantly lose the patronage of the most elevated diners in Paris. He would be sued, wrecked, ruined …
    â€˜At this point Kane looked over at Abel, and Abel, who had been quietly listening, rose from their table and came to his brother. They conferred for a moment, then Abel took the owner aside and there was another inaudible conference. While this was going on, Kane said to me soothingly, “A thousand apologies for this annoyance. It will be over in a moment.” I had to smile up at him again to keep Claudel in hand …
    â€˜Then the owner rejoined us, and he was paler than my cousin. If Monsieur Bendigo and his guests would be so gracious as to retire to a private suite, for a few moments only … Monsieur Bendigo smiled and said that would be agreeable to him — if I joined his party.’
    â€˜And you did?’
    â€˜I had to, Mr. Queen, or Prince Claudel would have