ou not recognize him by his wonderful likeness to the first
Napoleon,--him on horseback talking to Louvier, the great financier."

"Is that stout bourgeois in the carriage Louvier,--my mortgagee,
Louvier?"

"Your mortgagee, my dear Marquis? Well, he is rich enough to be a very
lenient one upon pay-day."

"Hein!--I doubt his leniency," said Alain. "I have promised my avoue to
meet him at dinner. Do you think I did wrong?"

"Wrong! of course not; he is likely to overwhelm you with civilities.
Pray don't refuse if he gives you an invitation to his soiree next
Saturday; I am going to it. One meets there the notabilities most
interesting to study,--artists, authors, politicians, especially those
who call themselves Republicans. He and the Prince agree in one thing;
namely, the cordial reception they give to the men who would destroy the
state of things upon which Prince and financier both thrive. Hillo! here
comes Lemercier on return from the Bois."

Lemercier's coupe stopped beside the footpath. "What tidings of the
Belle Inconnue?" asked the Englishman. "None; she was not there. But I
am rewarded: such an adventure! a dame of the haute volee; I believe
she is a duchess. She was walking with a lap-dog, a pure Pomeranian. A
strange poodle flew at the Pomeranian, I drove off the poodle, rescued
the Pomeranian, received the most gracious thanks, the sweetest smile:
femme superbe, middle aged. I prefer women of forty. Au revoir, I am due
at the club."

Alain felt a sensation of relief that Lemercier had not seen the lady
in the pearl-coloured dress, and quitted the Englishman with a lightened
heart.

CHAPTER IV.

"Piccola, piccola! com e cortese! another invitation from M. Louvier for
next Saturday,--conversazione." This was said in Italian by an elderly
lady bursting noisily into the room,--elderly, yet with a youthful
expression of face, owing perhaps to a pair of very vivacious black
eyes. She was dressed, after a somewhat slatternly fashion, in a wrapper
of crimson merino much the worse for wear, a blue handkerchief twisted
turban-like round her head, and her feet encased in list slippers. The
person to whom she addressed herself was a young lady with dark hair,
which, despite its evident repugnance, was restrained into smooth glossy
braids over the forehead, and at the crown of the small graceful head
into the simple knot which Horace has described as "Spartan." Her dress
contrasted the speaker's by an exqu