Castanado and the rest."

"And you would answer?"

"That I knew they had discovered you."

"Discovered, you mean, my spiritual substance?"

"Yes, your spiritual substance. That's a capital expression, Mr.
Chester, your 'spiritual substance.' I must add that to my English."

"Your English is wonderfully correct. May I ask something else?"

"I can answer without. Yes, I know where you're going to-morrow and
for what; to read that old manuscript. Mr. Chester, that other
story--of my _grand'mere_, 'Maud'; how did you like that?"

"It left me in love with your _grand'mere_."

"Notwithstanding she became what they used to call--you know the word."

"Yes, 'nigger-stealer.' How did you ever add that to your English?"

"My father _was_ one. Right here in Royal Street. Hotel St. Louis.
Else he might never have married my--that's too long to tell here."

"May I not hear it soon, at your home?"

"Assuredly. Sooner or later. My aunts they are born raconteurs."

"Oh! your aunts. Hem! Do you know? I had an uncle who once was your
grandfather's sort of robber, though a Southerner born and bred."

"Yes, Ovide's wife told me. Will you permit me a question?"

"No," laughed Chester, "but I can answer it. Yes. Those four poor
runaways to whom your sweet Maud showed the clock in the sky were the
same four my uncle helped on--oh, you've not heard it, and it also is
too long. I can lend you his 'Memorandum' if you'll have it."

She hesitated. "N-no," she said. "Ah, no! I couldn't bear that
responsibility! Listen; Mr. Smith is going to tell a war story of the
city."

But no, that gentleman's story was yet another too long for the moment
even when the men were left to their cigars. Instead he and Chester
made further acquaintance. When they returned to the ladies, "I want
you to talk with my wife," said Mr. Smith, and Chester obeyed. Yet
soon he was at mademoiselle's side again and she was saying in a
dropped voice:

"To-morrow when you're at the Castanados' to read, so privately, would
you be willing for Mme. De l'Isle to be there--just madame alone?"

Oh, but men are dull! "I'd be honored!" he said. "They can modify the
privacy as they please." Oh, but men are dull! There he had to give
place to M. Prieur and presently accepted some kind of social
invitation, seeing no way out of it, from the Smiths. So ended the
evening. Mlle. Chapdelaine was taken to her home, "close by," as she
said, in t