knew your face the moment I saw you on the stairs."

"You know me?" said Bertrand, drawing back a little.

"Of course I know you. Who could help it? Your face is one of the best
known in Europe. So you are the hero that Chris used to worship at
Valpre! She mentioned the one fact to me, but not the other. She knows, I
suppose?"

"Ah, yes, but it is a secret." Bertrand spoke wearily, as if reluctant to
discuss the matter. "It is not my desire to be recognized. She knows that
also."

"I never knew Chris could keep a secret before," commented Max.

A quick gleam shot up in the Frenchman's eyes. "Then you do not know her
very well," he said.

Max smiled shrewdly, but did not contest the point. He seldom argued, and
Chris herself at this moment intervened.

"Bertie, I've saved the supper extras for you. Don't forget. Max, you
know most of the people here. Do introduce him, or find Jack--he will.
I'm dancing the first with Trevor. Good-bye!"

She flashed her smile upon him, and was gone. Bertrand stood and watched
her as she went away through the throng with Trevor Mordaunt. Everyone
watched her, and nearly everyone smiled. She was so naively, so sublimely
happy.

Her gay young laugh rang out as they began to dance. "Isn't it fun?" she
said; and then, with her eyes turned to his, "Trevor, I've such a crowd
of things to thank you for that I don't know where to begin."

"Then, my dear child, don't begin!" he said, with his indulgent smile.

She frowned at him. "You are not to call me 'child' any longer. I'm
grown-up."

His smile remained. "Since when?" he said.

"That's a rude question which I am not going to answer. But, Trevor,
you--you shouldn't have sent me all that money. It's much more than I
want."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said; and, after a moment, "I hope you will
spend it profitably."

"Oh, yes." Eagerly she made reply. "I've bought a new collar for
Cinders--such a beauty, with bells! I thought it would be so useful if he
went rabbiting."

"What! To warn the rabbits?"

"Oh, no! I never thought of that! Poor Cinders! It would spoil his sport,
wouldn't it? And he's such a sportsman. I suppose I shall have to keep it
for Sundays after all. What a pity! I thought it would help us to find
him if he got lost."

"But he always turns up again," said Mordaunt consolingly.

Her blue eyes flashed their sunshine. "Yes, yes, of course. And another
thing I did which ought to please you very much."

The i