Sattyn-Whiley said, 'that the colonel did not patronize establishments of the kind with which you are familiar.'

'Oh, I know that,' Mr. O'Reilly said. 'I'm sure the colonel knows even more about it than I do. They kept the good ones just for the officers. But I heard the officers talk about it. That's about all they ever talked about. Would you believe that they take off everything but their underwear and then walk around on your back ?'

'Robespierre, shut up!' Madame Korsky-Rimsakov said.

'Sorry, pumpkin,' he said. 'If you tell me this opera's not dirty, that's good enough for me.'

'I just wanted to take a moment of your time, Your Highness,' Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley said, 'to tell you that we're all looking forward to your performance tonight.'

'You know,' Mr. O'Reilly said, 'I checked the box office just before I came in here. It's sold out. I'll bet a lot of people out there think they're going to see something dirty.'

The door to the dressing room was suddenly flung open. A bearded gentleman in full Arabian robes stepped in, and then, as he bowed low, announced in a loud voice, 'His Royal Highness the Sheikh of Abzug!'

Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley's mouth opened wide. A very large Arabian gentleman with a pointed beard swept into the room.

'Hey, Abdullah!' Mr. O'Reilly said. 'You're early.'

His Royal Highness, smiling broadly, bowed to Madame Kristina Korsky-Rimsakov. 'Mud in your eye!' he said. He turned to Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley and bowed again. 'Up yours!' he said. 'Your mother wear army shoes !'*

*What did he say?' Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley inquired, aghast.

'His Royal Highness doesn't speak very much English,' Madame Korsky-Rimsakov said, somewhat lamely. 'I hope you misunderstood him.'

'I bring greetings, my lady,' the Sheikh said, switching to French, which Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley understood. 'From your brother. I have just seen him and the baroness** in Paris.'

'Did you ?' Kristina Korsky-Rimsakov said.

'Hey, Abdullah,' Mr. O'Reilly said. 'Ix-nay! Utshay Up-hay!'***

'My brother sometimes doesn't choose his friends with care,' Madame Kristina, whose concept of sexual morality was somewhat at variance with that of the baroness, explained.

'I understand perfectly, Your Highness,' Mrs. Sattyn-Whiley said.