* * * * *

After his first inspection of the house and the friends, Roland came to
the conclusion that he preferred Maraquita's room to her company. The
former was large and airy, the latter, with one exception, small and
hairy.

The exception Maraquita addressed as Bombito. He was a conspicuous
figure. He was one of those out-size, hasty-looking men. One suspected
him of carrying lethal weapons.

Maraquita presented Roland to the company. The native speech of
Paranoya sounded like shorthand, with a blend of Spanish. An expert
could evidently squeeze a good deal of it into a minute. Its effect on
the company was good. They were manifestly soothed. Even Bombito.

Introductions in detail then took place. This time, for Roland's
benefit, Maraquita spoke in English, and he learned that most of those
present were marquises. Before him, so he gathered from Maraquita,
stood the very flower of Paranoya's aristocracy, driven from their
native land by the Infamy of 1905. Roland was too polite to inquire
what on earth the Infamy of 1905 might be, but its mention had a marked
effect on the company. Some scowled, others uttered deep-throated
oaths. Bombito did both. Before supper, to which they presently sat
down, was over, however, Roland knew a good deal about Paranoya and its
history. The conversation conducted by Maraquita--to a ceaseless _bouche
pleine_ accompaniment from her friends--bore exclusively upon the
subject.