The Waylaid Count (9)

 9

In another moment, General Ribereus became suave, even deferential to me, and more friendly toward my father. My father seemed to study this sprig of the ruling class. I was certain it was the first General with whom he had ever come into contact. 

“It’s nice to see someone so high up the chain with no frills upon him. I think you would make an excellent spokesperson for this cruiseshuttle if you ever wish to give up your position and get into advertising.” 

“Pops!”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” the General chuckled. 

It occurred to me that the cruiseshuttle’s reception was scarcely the correct place in which to receive this dignified young man. There he stood, negligently leaning against the woodwork, just as though he were a stockbroker or the manager of one of our floorshows.

“Are you travelling quite alone?” I asked.

“By a series of accidents I am,” he said. “My attendant was to have met me at the Majriti dock, but he failed to do so. I cannot imagine why.”

“Are you talking about Major Lodimmick?” I asked.

“Yes, Lodimmick. I do not remember that he ever missed an appointment before. Wait—how do you know him? He has been here?”

“He dined with us last night,” my father interjected, “on Vixie’s invitation,” he added maliciously. “I feel I saw too much of him last night, but today we have seen nothing of him. I know, however, that he has engaged one of the stateroom apartments, and also the suites adjoining the stateroom apartments—Nos. 1850, 1860, and 1870. Isn’t that so, Vixie?”

“Yes, Pops,” I said, having first demurely examined a ledger. “The General would doubtlessly like me to conduct you to your stateroom—suite I mean.” Then, I  laughed and said, “I actually don’t know who is the proper person to conduct you, and that’s a fact. The truth is that Pops and I are rather raw yet in the cruiseshuttle line. You see, we only bought the ship last night.”

“You have bought the cruiseshuttle!” exclaimed the General.

“That’s so,” said my father.

“And Feliste Ritzavoy has gone?”

“He is going, if he has not already gone.”

“Ah! I see,” said the General; “this is one of your “strokes” perhaps? You have bought to sell again, is that not it? You are on your holiday, but you cannot resist making a few million-notes by way of relaxation. I have heard of such things.”

“We shalln’t sell again, General, until we are tired of our bargain. Sometimes we tire very quickly, and sometimes we don’t. It depends—eh? What?”

My father broke off suddenly to attend to a servant who had noisily entered the office and was trying to get his attention with urgent mysterious signs to him.

“If you please, sir,” the man said finally, and then by frantic gestures implored my father to follow him.

“Pray don’t let me detain you, Baron Raskelis,” said the General.

My father made a curt little bow to the him, and departed after the servant.

“Mayn’t I come inside?” said the General to me once my father had gone.

“Impossible, General,” I laughed. “The rule against visitors entering this office is frightfully strict.”

“How do you know the rule is so strict if you only came into possession of the cruiseshuttle last night?”

“I know because I made the rule myself this morning.”

“But seriously, Major Raskelis, I want to talk to you.”

“Do you want to talk to me as General Ribereus or as the friend—the acquaintance—whom I knew in Aux Thorksworth last year?”

“As the friend, dear lady, if I may use the term.”

“And you are sure that you would not like me first to conduct you to your apartments?”

“Not yet. I will wait till Lodimmick comes; he cannot fail to be here soon.”

“Then we will have tea served in father’s private room—the proprietor’s private room, you know.”

“Good!” he said.

I called on the comm and tried to behave in a manner calculated to prove to Generals and to whomever it might concern that I was a woman with good business instincts and training. Then, I stepped down from my chair, emerged from the office, and led General Ribereus to the Louis XV chamber that I had helped my father recently inhabit.

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