of her extended hand, in a very white envelope which I tore
open impatiently. It consisted of a few lines only. It began abruptly:

"If you are gone to sea then I can't forgive you for not sending the
usual word at the last moment. If you are not gone why don't you come?
Why did you leave me yesterday? You leave me crying--I who haven't cried
for years and years, and you haven't the sense to come back within the
hour, within twenty hours! This conduct is idiotic"--and a sprawling
signature of the four magic letters at the bottom.

While I was putting the letter in my pocket the girl said in an earnest
undertone: "I don't like to leave Madame by herself for any length of
time."

"How long have you been in my room?" I asked.

"The time seemed long. I hope Monsieur won't mind the liberty. I sat
for a little in the hall but then it struck me I might be seen. In fact,
Madame told me not to be seen if I could help it."

"Why did she tell you that?"

"I permitted myself to suggest that to Madame. It might have given a
false impression. Madame is frank and open like the day but it won't do
with everybody. There are people who would put a wrong construction on
anything. Madame's sister told me Monsieur was out."

"And you didn't believe her?"

"_Non_, Monsieur. I have lived with Madame's sister for nearly a week
when she first came into this house. She wanted me to leave the message,
but I said I would wait a little. Then I sat down in the big porter's
chair in the hall and after a while, everything being very quiet, I stole
up here. I know the disposition of the apartments. I reckoned Madame's
sister would think that I got tired of waiting and let myself out."

"And you have been amusing yourself watching the street ever since?"

"The time seemed long," she answered evasively. "An empty _coupe_ came
to the door about an hour ago and it's still waiting," she added, looking
at me inquisitively.

"It seems strange."

"There are some dancing girls staying in the house," I said negligently.
"Did you leave Madame alone?"

"There's the gardener and his wife in the house."

"Those people keep at the back. Is Madame alone? That's what I want to
know."

"Monsieur forgets that I have been three hours away; but I assure
Monsieur that here in this town it's perfectly safe for Madame to be
alone."

"And wouldn't it be anywhere else? It's the first I hear of it."

"In Paris, in our apartments in the h