han ever."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"It is certainly very foolish," she admitted.

"I don't see why," he protested, "you should disapprove of me so
utterly."

"I do not disapprove," she told him. "I have not the right. I have not
the desire to have the right. Only, since you will have me tell you, I
am interested in your work. I like to talk about it, to hear you talk
when you are enthusiastic. It does not amuse me to see you come down
to the level of these others, who while their morning away doing
nothing. You are not at home amongst them. You have no place there.
When you come to me as a young man in Society, you bore me."

She stepped into the taximeter and drove away, with a farewell nod,
abrupt although not altogether unkindly. Yet as she looked behind, a
few seconds later, her face was very much softer--her eyes were almost
regretful.

"It may hurt him," she said to herself, "but it is very good that he
should hear the truth."

CHAPTER XXXIV

A WOMAN'S TONGUE

The man was harmless enough, to all appearance--something less than
middle-aged, pale, and with stubbly brown moustache. He was dressed in
blue serge clothes, and a bowler hat a little ancient at the brim.
Neither his appearance nor his manner was remarkable for any
particular intelligence. Yet the girl who looked him over was at once
suspicious.

"What can I do for you?" she asked a little curtly.

He pointed to the crystal upon the table, and held out his hand.

"I want my fortune told," he said.

Violet shook her head.

"I do not attempt to read fortunes," she said, "and I do not, in any
case, see gentlemen here at all. I do not understand how the boy could
have shown you up."

"It wasn't the boy's fault," the visitor answered. "I was very keen on
coming, and I gave him the slip. Do make an exception for once, won't
you?" he went on. "I know my hand is very easy to read. I had it read
once, and nearly everything came true."

Again she shook her head.

"I cannot do anything for you, sir," she said.

The man protested.

"But you call yourself a professional palmist," he said, "and you add
crystal gazing to your announcement. I have seen it being carried
along on Regent Street."

"It is quite true," Violet said, "that I sometimes try to amuse
ladies, but I make no serious attempt to tell fortunes. And as I said
before, I do not even receive gentlemen here at all. I am sorry that
you have had your visit for nothing."