taff over the
waters, and the Red Sea waves hurtled together and swallowed up Pharaoh
and all his chariots.

She knew that the wall which stood on each side of her was wilder and
more rapacious than the waves of the sea; she knew that it needed only
a voice, a Moses, to set all this human sea in motion, hurling it
irresistibly onward until it should sweep away all the glory of wealth
and greatness in its blood-red waves.

Her heart throbbed, and she crouched trembling into the corner of the
carriage. But it was not with fear; it was so that those without should
not see her--for she was ashamed to meet their eyes.

For the first time in her life, her good-fortune appeared to her in the
light of an injustice, a thing to blush for.

Was she in her right place, in this soft-cushioned carriage, among these
tyrants and blood-suckers? Should she not rather be out there in the
billowing mass, among the children of hate?

Half-forgotten thoughts and feelings thrust up their heads like beasts
of prey which have long lain bound. She felt strange and homeless in
her glittering life, and thought with a sort of demoniac longing of the
horrible places from which she had risen.

She seized her rich lace shawl; there came over her a wild desire to
destroy, to tear something to pieces; but at this moment the carriage
turned into the gate-way of the hotel.

The footman tore open the door, and with her gracious smile, her air of
quiet, aristocratic distinction, she alighted.

A young attache rushed forward, and was happy when she took his arm,
still more enraptured when he thought he noticed an unusual gleam in her
eyes, and in the seventh heaven when he felt her arm tremble.

Full of pride and hope, he led her with sedulous politeness up the
shining marble steps.

*****

"'Tell me, _belle dame_, what good fairy endowed you in your cradle with
the marvellous gift of transforming everything you touch into something
new and strange. The very flower in your hair has a charm, as though
it were wet with the fresh morning dew. And when you dance it seems as
though the floor swayed and undulated to the rhythm of your footsteps."

The Count was himself quite astonished at this long and felicitous
compliment, for as a rule he did not find it easy to express himself
coherently. He expected, too, that his beautiful partner would show her
appreciation of his effort.

But he was disappointed. She leaned over the balcony, where they were