ur country are not so; at least those whom I have met."

"That," replied the Russian, turning his eyes full upon hers, "is
because we are discriminating, if, as you say, facile."

Anne flushed and laughed and then dropped lightly into a big wicker
chair, conscious that Koltsoff had not withdrawn his gaze. She leaned
forward and flicked her skirts over her ankles, nervously pulled a
stray wisp of hair from her neck. Then she slowly met the eyes of the
man standing at her side and propounded an inquiry having to do with
nothing less banal than his views of America thus far. Prince Koltsoff
tossed his head and thus threw off the question. This amused the girl.

"Really," she said, "don't you find a remarkable resemblance between
Newport and the Isle of Wight? At least--pray sit down, won't you--I
have found them very like."

Prince Koltsoff seated himself daintily in a chair at her side and his
face lit under the influence of a triumphant thought.

"You speak of the Isle of Wight, Miss Wellington, neglecting one great
point of difference. Newport possesses you. They are, therefore, to
me, totally different." He waved one hand slightly and drew his
cigarette case from his pocket with the other, glancing at the girl.

"Oh, certainly," she said, "please smoke."

"But the difference," pursued Koltsoff, "don't you think it remarkable
that it should be so apparent to me?"

"Do you know," she said, glancing down at the toes of her slippers, "I
am not sufficiently inter--" She stopped abruptly and shrugged her
shoulders. "Oh, let us be impersonal, Prince Koltsoff, it is so much
nicer."

The Prince frowned.

"But, please," he said, "I wish to be personal. Am I at fault if I
find you interesting? Character is one of my most absorbing studies.
I am rather scientific. I see sometimes in persons, more than others
see who are not so observing, or scientific, as you please." He lit
his cigarette. "In you, for instance."

Miss Wellington, caught off her guard, started. The flash of a smile
crossed Koltsoff's face. His inclination to show off, to reveal his
cleverness, triumphed over his small supply of tact.

"I! 'For instance'! What do you mean, Prince Koltsoff?"

"Why, this morning at your church. As hidden depths of character
reveal themselves--" the Prince raised his eyes. "That billet--shall
we say _billet doux_?" He raised his shoulders and let them fall
slowly. "Women! Ah! most interesting!"