le me. "Paris is a marvelous city."

"There is no city to equal it. Inasmuch as we three shall never meet
again, will you not do me the honor to repeat that jewel song from
_Faust_?" My audacity did not impress her in the least.

"You can scarcely expect me to give a supper to a stranger and then
sing for him, besides," said Gretchen, a chill again stealing into her
tones. "These Americans!" she observed to her companion in French.

I laid aside my cigar, approached the piano, and sat down. I struck a
few chords and found the instrument to be in remarkably good order. I
played a Chopin _Polonaise_, I tinkled Grieg's _Papillon_, then I
ceased.

"That is to pay for my supper," I explained.

Next I played _Le Courier_, and when I had finished that I turned
again, rising.

"That is to pay for my horse's supper," I said.

Gretchen's good humor returned.

"Whoever you are, sir," her tone no longer repellent, "you are amusing.
Pray, tell us whom we have the honor to entertain?"

"I haven't the vaguest idea who my hostess is,"--evasively.

"It is quite out of the question. You are the intruder."

"Call me Mr. Intruder, then," said I.

It was, you will agree, a novel adventure. I was beginning to enjoy it
hugely.

"Who do you suppose this fellow is?" Gretchen asked.

"He says he is an American, and I believe he is. What Americans are in
Barscheit?"

"I know of none at all. What shall we do to get rid of him?"

All this was carried on with unstudied rudeness. They were women of
high and noble quality; and as I was an interloper, I could take no
exception to a conversation in a language I had stated I did not
understand. If they were rude, I had acted in a manner unbecoming a
gentleman. Still, I was somewhat on the defensive. I took out my
watch. My hour was up.

"I regret that I must be off," I said ruefully. "It is much pleasanter
here than on the road."

"I can not ask you to remain here. You will find the inn a very
comfortable place for the night," was Gretchen's suggestion.

"Before I go, may I ask in what manner I might serve as a witness?"
Ere the words had fully crossed my lips I recognized that my smartness
had caused me to commit an unpardonable blunder for a man who wished to
show up well in an adventure of this sort. (But fate had a hand in it,
as presently you shall see.)

Gretchen laughed, but the sound was harsh and metallic. She turned to
her companion, who was staring