apologies for
this innocent intrusion." I looked at my watch. "I believe that you
gave me an hour's respite. So, then, I have thirty minutes to my
account."

The women gazed at each other. One laughed, and the other smiled; it
was the English girl who laughed this time. I liked the sound of it
better than any I had yet heard.

(Pardon another parenthesis. I hope you haven't begun to think that
_I_ am the hero of this comedy. Let it be furthest from your thoughts.
I am only a passive bystander.)

"I sincerely trust that your hunger is appeased," said the one who had
smiled.

"It is, thank you." I absently fumbled in my coat pockets, then
guiltily dropped my hands. What a terrible thing habit is!

"You may smoke," said the Bouguereau child who was grown into
womanhood. Wasn't that fine of her? And wasn't it rather observant,
too? I learned later that she had a brother who was fond of tobacco.
To her eyes my movement was a familiar one.

"With your kind permission," said I gratefully. I hadn't had a smoke
in four hours.

I owned a single good cigar, the last of my importation. I lighted it
and blew forth a snowy billow of heavenly aroma. I know something
about human nature, even the feminine side of it. A presentable young
man with a roll of aromatic tobacco seldom falls to win the confidence
of those about him. With that cloud of smoke the raw edge of formality
smoothed down.

"Had you any particular destination?" asked Gretchen.

"None at all. The road took my fancy, and I simply followed it."

"Ah! that is one of the pleasures of riding--to go wherever the
inclination bids. I ride."

We were getting on famously.

"Do you take long journeys?" I inquired.

"Often. It is the most exhilarating of sports," said the Enchantment.
"The scenery changes; there are so many things that charm and engage
your interest: the mountains, the waterways, the old ruins. Have you
ever whistled to the horses afield and watched them come galloping down
to the wall? It is fine. In England--" But her mouth closed
suddenly. She was talking to a stranger.

I love enthusiasm in a woman. It colors her cheeks and makes her eyes
sparkle, I grew a bit bolder.

"I heard a wonderful voice as I approached the castle," said I.

Gretchen shrugged.

"I haven't heard its equal outside Berlin or Paris," I went on.

"Paris?" said Gretchen, laying a neat little trap for me into which my
conceit was soon to tumb