The Groom

- Well, I see, dear, you’re thinking again about something sad. To hell with sadness! Before long, we’ll throw the most splendid wedding the whole white world has ever seen! We’ll have a feast to the max! But a wedding can’t happen without a groom. Sit down for a moment—I’ll show you a few portraits,” Colette went on as if nothing had happened, shuffling the cards in her hands like a deck of playing cards.

- Whose, I wonder?” I asked, putting the question rhetorically.

- Potential grooms, of course. And don’t make such a face—most of them are very nice. Some are kind. There are also fools, if you want to be the one calling the shots.

Well, of course! She must have collected files on each of them in advance.

- Princes and kings?

- Exactly, dear.