up and laid a detaining hand
upon his arm. "Our versatile friend, what other projects has she in
hand? What is she planning for her young ward?"

"Why, really, I can not say--beyond the fact that the girl is to be
introduced to society this winter."

"Humph! Going to make a try for the Ames set?"

"That, I believe, Madam, would be useless without your aid."

"Did Mrs. Hawley-Crowles say so, Monsignor?" demanded the woman,
leaning forward eagerly.

"Why, I believe I am not abusing her confidence when I say that she
intimated as much," he said, watching her closely and sparring now
with better judgment. "She mentioned Mrs. Ames as New York's
fashionable society leader--"

"There is no such position as leader in New York society, Monsignor,"
interrupted the Beaubien coldly. "There are sets and cliques, and
Mrs. Ames happens to be prominent in the one which at present
foolishly imagines it constitutes the upper stratum. Rot! And Mrs.
Hawley-Crowles, with nothing but a tarnished name and a large bank
account to recommend her, now wishes to break into that clique and
attain social leadership, does she? How decidedly interesting!"

Then the woman's eyes narrowed and grew hard. Leaning closer to
the churchman, she rested the tip of her finger on his knee.
"So, Monsignor," she said, with cold precision, "this is Mrs.
Hawley-Crowles's method of renouncing the world, is it? Sublime!
And she would use both you and me, eh? And you are her ambassador
at the court of the Beaubien? Very well, then, she shall use us.
But you and I will first make this compact, my dear Monsignor:
Mrs. Hawley-Crowles shall be taken into the so-called 'Ames set,'
and you shall cease importuning me to return to your Church, and
what is more, shall promise to have no conversation on church
matters with her ward, the young girl. If you do not agree to
this, Monsignor, I shall set in motion forces that will make your
return to New York quite undesirable." When she concluded, she
looked long and steadily into his eyes.

Monsignor got slowly to his feet. "Madam!" he exclaimed in a hoarse
whisper, "my astonishment--"

"There," she said calmly, as she rose and took his hand, "please omit
the dramatics, Monsignor. And now you must go, for to-night I
entertain, and I have already given you more time than I intended.
But, Monsignor, do you in future work with or against me? Are we to be
friends or enemies?"

"Why, Madam," he replied quickly, "we could n