rly forth she spoke sharply
to Miss Ingate. She was indeed very rude to Miss Ingate. She was
exasperated, and Miss Ingate happened to be handy.

In the foyer not a trace of the Foa clan nor of Madame Piriac and her
husband, nor of Mr. Gilman! But Tommy and Nick were there, putting on their
cloaks, and with them, but not helping them, was Mr. Ziegler. The blond Mr.
Ziegler greeted Audrey as though the occasion of their previous meeting had
been a triumph for him. His self-satisfaction, if ever it had been damaged,
was repaired to perfection. The girls were silent; Miss Ingate was silent;
but Mr. Ziegler was not silent.

"He played better than I did anticipate," said Mr. Ziegler, lighting a
cigarette, after he had nonchalantly acknowledged the presentation to him
of Miss Ingate. "But of what use is this French public? None. Even had he
succeeded here it would have meant nothing. Nothing. In music Paris does
not exist. There are six towns in Germany where success means
vorldt-reputation. Not that he would succeed in Germany. He has not studied
in Germany. And outside Germany there are no schools. However, we have the
intention to impose our culture upon all European nations, including
France. In one year our army will be here--in Paris. I should wait for
that, but probably I shall be called up. In any case, I shall be present."

"But whatever do you mean?" cried Miss Ingate, aghast.

"What do I mean? I mean our army will be here. All know it in Germany.
They know it in Paris! But what can they do? How can they stop us?...
Decadent!..." He laughed easily.

"Oh, my chocolates!" exclaimed Miss Thompkins. "I've left them in the
hall!"

"No, here they are," said Nick, handing the box.

To Audrey it seemed to be the identical box that Mr. Gilman had been
carrying. But of course it might not be. Thousands of chocolate boxes
resemble each other exactly.

Carefully ignoring Mr. Ziegler, Audrey remarked to Tommy with a
light-heartedness which she did not feel:

"Well, what did you think of Jane this afternoon?"

"Jane?"

"Jane Foley. Nick was taking you to see her, wasn't she?"

"Oh, yes!" said Tommy with a bright smile. "But I didn't go. I went for a
motor drive with Mr. Gilman."

There was a short pause. At length Tommy said:

"So he's got the goods on you at last!"

"Who?" Audrey sharply questioned.

"Dauphin. I knew he would. Remember my words. That portrait will cost you
forty thousand francs, not counting t