Chapter 22: A Summons from the Princess

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​⁠“I have reached a decision,” declared Professor Blackwell, “upon a point that has been worrying me.”

Dinner dispatched, they sat around the table in council, pipes and cigars going. Safîyeh had reported that her charge had found the soup, the fried chicken, the Château y’Quem—of which they had only three bottles—and the peaches entirely to her satisfaction.

“What point?” asked John Cumberland.

“Disti