not? Aren't we all on the same quest? It is the 'camaraderie' of
pleasure!"

They reached the bend of the stairs. From above they could hear the
music, the rattle of plates, the hum of voices. She leaned towards him.

"Kiss me, please," she whispered.

He stooped down and raised her hand to his lips. She drew it slowly away
and looked at him curiously.

"Your lips are cold," she said.

He laughed.

"The night is young," he answered. "See, there is Francois."

They passed on. Ella was a little more content. It was the most
promising thing he had said to her.

CHAPTER IV

AT THE "DEAD RAT"

Monsieur Francois piloted the little party himself to the corner table
which he had reserved for them. He had taken a fancy to this tall young
Englishman, whose French, save for a trifle of accent, was as perfect as
his own, who spent money with both hands, who was gay as the gayest, and
yet who had the air of being little more than a looker-on at the
merriment which he did so much to promote.

"We are full to-night, monsieur," he said. "There will be a great crowd.
Yet you see your table waits. Mademoiselle Bolero herself begged for it,
but I said always--'No! no! no! It is for monsieur and his friends.'"

"You are a prince," Macheson exclaimed as they filed into their places.
"To-night we are going to prove to ourselves that we are indeed in
Paris! Sommelier, the same wine--in magnums to-night! My friend is
sleepy. We must wake him up. Ah, mademoiselle!" he waved his hand to the
little short-skirted danseuse. "You must take a glass of wine with us,
and afterwards--the Maxixe! Waiter, a glass, a chair for mademoiselle!"

Mademoiselle came pirouetting up to them. Monsieur was very kind. She
would take a glass of champagne, and afterwards--yes! the Maxixe, if
they desired it!

They sat with their backs to the wall, facing the little space along
which the visitors to the cafe came and went, and where, under
difficulties, one danced. The leader of the orchestra came bowing and
smiling towards them, playing an American waltz, and Macheson, with a
laugh, sprang up and guided mademoiselle through the throng of people
and hurrying waiters.

"Monsieur comes often to Paris?" she asked, as they whirled around.

"For the first time in my life," Macheson answered. "We are here on a
quest! We want to understand what pleasure means!"

Mademoiselle sighed ever so slightly under the powder with which her
pretty face was d