with
it; where and how did you learn that Kitty is in Venice?"

Hillard told him briefly.

"And so they are all in Venice, broke? By George, here's our chance;
everlasting gratitude and all that. We'll bail 'em out and ship 'em
home! How is that for a bright idea?" Merrihew had regained his usual
enthusiasm.

"Let me see," said Hillard practically. "There are five of them: five
hundred for tickets and doubtless five hundred more for unpaid hotel
bills. It would never do, Dan, unless we wish to go home with them."

"But I haven't touched my letter of credit yet. I could get along on two
thousand."

"Not with the brand of cigars you are smoking; a lira-fifty each."

"Well I'll try the native brand for a while, _Trabucos_."

"Not in my immediate vicinity," Hillard objected. "No, we can't bail
them out, but we can ease up their bills till money comes from home. Not
one of them by this time will have a watch. O'Mally will remain sober
from dire necessity. Poor Kitty Killigrew! All the wonderful shops and
not a stiver in her pockets!"

"Aren't they the most careless lot, these professional people? They
never prepare for emergencies, and are always left high and dry. Instead
of putting their cash in banks, they buy diamonds, with the idea that
they have always something convertible into cash at a moment's notice."

"Usually at one-third of what the original price was." Hillard threw off
his hat and coat and lighted his pipe.

Merrihew paced the floor for some time, his head full of impossible
schemes. He stopped in the middle of the room with an abruptness which
portended something.

"I have it. Instead of going directly to Venice, we'll change the route
and go to Monte Carlo. I'll risk my four hundred, and if I win!"

"Then the announcement cards, a house-wedding, and pictures in the New
York papers. Dan, you are impossible. You have gambled enough to know
that when you are careless of results you win, but never when you need
the cash. But it is Monte Carlo, if you say so. Two or three days there
will cure you of your beautiful dream. After all," with a second
thought, "it's a good cause, and it might be just your luck to win. The
masquerading lady! I'll stake my word that there is comedy within
comedy, and rare good comedy at that. Monte Carlo it is."

Merrihew danced a jig. Hillard stepped to the mirror and bowed
profoundly. The jig ceased.

"Madame, permit me, a comparative stranger, to offer you passage m