r-like watches and jewelled rings that bore tiny
figures, such as 12,500 francs, 40,000 francs. Despite her wealth, Audrey
felt poor. The upper windows of nearly all the great buildings were arrayed
with plants in full bloom. The roadway was covered with superb automobiles,
some of them nearly as long as trains. About half of them stood in repose
at the kerb, and Audrey as she strolled could see through their panes of
bevelled glass the complex luxury within of toy dogs, clocks, writing-pads,
mirrors, powder boxes, parasols, and the lounging arrogance of uniformed
menials. At close intervals women passed rapidly across the pavements to or
from these automobiles. If they were leaving a shop, the automobile sprang
into life, dogs, menials, and all, the door was opened, the woman slipped
in like a mechanical toy, the door banged, the menial jumped, and with
trumpet tones the entire machine curved and swept away. The aspect of these
women made Audrey feel glad that she was wearing her best clothes, and
simultaneously made her feel that her best clothes were worse than useless.

She saw an automobile shop with a card at the door: "Town and touring cars
for hire by day, week, or month." A gorgeous Mercedes, too spick, too span,
altogether too celestial for earthly use, occupied most of the shop.

"Good afternoon, Madame," said a man in bad English. For Audrey had
misguided herself into the emporium. She did not care to be addressed in
her own tongue; she even objected to the instant discovery of her
nationality, of which at the moment she was ashamed. And so it was with
frigidity that she inquired whether cars were to be hired.

The shopman hesitated. Audrey knew that she had committed an indiscretion.
It was impossible that cars should be handed out thus unceremoniously to
anybody who had the fancy to enter the shop! Cars were naturally the
subject of negotiations and references.... And then the shopman, espying
the gold bag, and being by it and by the English frigidity humbled to his
proper station, fawned and replied that he had cars for hire, and the best
cars. Did the lady want a large car or a small car? She wanted a large car.
Did she want a town or a touring car? She wanted a town car, and by the
week. When did she want it? She wanted it at once--in half an hour.

"I can hire you a car in half an hour, with liveried chauffeur," said the
shopman, after telephoning. "But he cannot speak English."

"_Ca m'est egal_," a