myself, and don’t cheat, as women invariably do sooner or later.”
This sparked a long argument with Alnina speaking up for her own sex, while William refused to take sides.
“I will judge the issue,” he volunteered, “and I will tell you at the end of the battle who is the winner.”
It all ended by William declaring that there was no winner, but a draw between John and Alnina.
“Now we will go back to what I originally said when I told you my feeling for my mountain is that for a beautiful woman,” the Duke said, having the last word.
“She is to me,” he went on, “like Aphrodite or any of the other Greek Goddesses, compelling my admiration yet being out of reach and untouchable.”
“You will have to touch the mountain whether you like it or not,” William chuckled, “if we are to find the gold we think is in it.”
“If she is as perfect as I imagine her to be and also as charming,” the Duke replied, “I am sure the gold will pour out for us and we will not have half as much trouble in finding it as we thought.”
William laughed and turned to Alnina,
“Let him dream his dreams. When he wakes up to reality, he will undoubtedly cry on our shoulders!”
“I think it is wonderful of him to have ideas which other people don’t have,” Alnina said, “and to have taken all this trouble to find his way back to his mountain.”
“Wait until you see it. Then you will realise why I am so much in love with it.”
The Duke then walked out of the Saloon and Alnina guessed that he was going up to the bridge.
“I think he believes that the ship goes faster when he is there,” she confided to William.
“Between ourselves,” William replied, “I am very worried in case when he gets there the mountain has blown up or, as I really suspect, the Prince will refuse to sell it.”
“It is quite extraordinary that anyone as clever and practical as John,” Alnina remarked, “should be such an idealist. In fact I am very impressed by him.”
“So am I, but he has always been the same ever since we were at school together.”
He paused as if he was looking back into the past.
“He used to make up his mind on something,” he went on, “and invariably, because he was so determined, it came true.”
“Then I hope he will not be disappointed now.”
“I feel the same,” William replied, “but between ourselves I think this time it’s a hundred to one chance of realising his dreams.”
“Oh, you must not say that! He will be terribly disappointed and we want him to be happy.”
William grinned.
“I have never seen him as happy as he is at this moment. So we must just pray that the whole plot will not be a complete delusion.”
“I already pray for that every night,” Alnina said. “And I am hoping that everything will work out right and the Prince will let him have the mountain at a good price.”
“Well, as far as I am concerned,” William said, “I have enjoyed this voyage more than anything I have ever enjoyed before – and it is entirely due to you.”
Alnina smiled at him.
“You are coming along really beautifully with your Russian,” she said, “but John is so impatient with himself, which is a mistake when it comes to learning languages.”
“Well, at least we can now thank people politely and if we are stranded on a remote island where everyone speaks Russian, we can at least ask for something to eat.”
“That is true and actually you have both been very quick in picking up what is a most difficult language.”
“I only hope I don’t have to converse with people at dinner or make a speech. Otherwise I think I will be able to cope with day to day affairs.”
“I deliberately taught you that part first,” Alnina said, “because it is essential to be able to get yourself from place to place or buy food. The more conversational words can wait, but the ones I have just mentioned cannot.”
“You have been wonderful, Alnina. I have never met a better
This sparked a long argument with Alnina speaking up for her own sex, while William refused to take sides.
“I will judge the issue,” he volunteered, “and I will tell you at the end of the battle who is the winner.”
It all ended by William declaring that there was no winner, but a draw between John and Alnina.
“Now we will go back to what I originally said when I told you my feeling for my mountain is that for a beautiful woman,” the Duke said, having the last word.
“She is to me,” he went on, “like Aphrodite or any of the other Greek Goddesses, compelling my admiration yet being out of reach and untouchable.”
“You will have to touch the mountain whether you like it or not,” William chuckled, “if we are to find the gold we think is in it.”
“If she is as perfect as I imagine her to be and also as charming,” the Duke replied, “I am sure the gold will pour out for us and we will not have half as much trouble in finding it as we thought.”
William laughed and turned to Alnina,
“Let him dream his dreams. When he wakes up to reality, he will undoubtedly cry on our shoulders!”
“I think it is wonderful of him to have ideas which other people don’t have,” Alnina said, “and to have taken all this trouble to find his way back to his mountain.”
“Wait until you see it. Then you will realise why I am so much in love with it.”
The Duke then walked out of the Saloon and Alnina guessed that he was going up to the bridge.
“I think he believes that the ship goes faster when he is there,” she confided to William.
“Between ourselves,” William replied, “I am very worried in case when he gets there the mountain has blown up or, as I really suspect, the Prince will refuse to sell it.”
“It is quite extraordinary that anyone as clever and practical as John,” Alnina remarked, “should be such an idealist. In fact I am very impressed by him.”
“So am I, but he has always been the same ever since we were at school together.”
He paused as if he was looking back into the past.
“He used to make up his mind on something,” he went on, “and invariably, because he was so determined, it came true.”
“Then I hope he will not be disappointed now.”
“I feel the same,” William replied, “but between ourselves I think this time it’s a hundred to one chance of realising his dreams.”
“Oh, you must not say that! He will be terribly disappointed and we want him to be happy.”
William grinned.
“I have never seen him as happy as he is at this moment. So we must just pray that the whole plot will not be a complete delusion.”
“I already pray for that every night,” Alnina said. “And I am hoping that everything will work out right and the Prince will let him have the mountain at a good price.”
“Well, as far as I am concerned,” William said, “I have enjoyed this voyage more than anything I have ever enjoyed before – and it is entirely due to you.”
Alnina smiled at him.
“You are coming along really beautifully with your Russian,” she said, “but John is so impatient with himself, which is a mistake when it comes to learning languages.”
“Well, at least we can now thank people politely and if we are stranded on a remote island where everyone speaks Russian, we can at least ask for something to eat.”
“That is true and actually you have both been very quick in picking up what is a most difficult language.”
“I only hope I don’t have to converse with people at dinner or make a speech. Otherwise I think I will be able to cope with day to day affairs.”
“I deliberately taught you that part first,” Alnina said, “because it is essential to be able to get yourself from place to place or buy food. The more conversational words can wait, but the ones I have just mentioned cannot.”
“You have been wonderful, Alnina. I have never met a better
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