men and Mrs. Hawley-Crowles.

"A very clever, if startling, performance," he commented; "and with
two superb actors, Mr. Ames and our little friend here," bowing over
Carmen's hand.

"I am _so_ glad you could accept our invitation, Monsignor. But,
dear me! I haven't got my breath yet," panted the steaming Mrs.
Hawley-Crowles. "Do take us, Monsignor, to the refectory. I feel
faint."

A few moments later, over their iced drinks, Lafelle was relating
vivid incidents of his recent travels, and odd bits of news from
Cartagena. "No, Miss Carmen," he said, in reply to her anxious
inquiries, "I did not meet the persons you have mentioned. And as for
getting up the Magdalena river, it would have been quite impossible.
Dismiss from your mind all thought of going down there now. Cartagena
is tense with apprehension. The inland country is seething. And the
little town of Simiti which you mention, I doubt not it is quite shut
off from the world by the war."

Carmen turned aside that he might not see the tears which welled into
her eyes.

"Your entertainment, Madam," continued Lafelle, addressing the now
recovered Mrs. Hawley-Crowles, "is superb, as have been all of your
social projects this winter, I learn. The thought which you expressed
to me some months ago regarding Catholic activity in social matters
certainly was well founded. I perceive that our Protestant rivals have
all but retired from the field."

Mrs. Hawley-Crowles swelled with pride. Carmen regarded the churchman
with wonder.

"And have you not found a sense of peace, of satisfaction and comfort,
since you united with the true Church?" Lafelle went on. "Are you not
at last at rest?"

"Quite so," sighed the lady, though the sigh was scarcely one of
unalloyed relief.

Lafelle turned to Carmen. "And our little friend here--can she still
remain an alien, now that she has some knowledge of her indebtedness
to the Church?"

Carmen looked blank. "My indebtedness to the Church!" she repeated.
"Why--"

It was now Lafelle's turn to sigh, as he directed himself again to
Mrs. Hawley-Crowles. "She does not see, Madam, that it was by the
ladder of Holy Church that she mounted to her present enviable social
height."

"But--what--what do you mean?" stammered the bewildered girl.

"May I not come and explain it to her?" said Lafelle. Then he suddenly
thought of his last conversation with the Beaubien. But he shrugged
his shoulders, and a defiant look sat upon his fe