"I've known her for ten years," said Monte.

"It's wonderful to have known her as long as that. I envy you."

"That's strange, because I almost envy you."

Peter laughed.

"I have a notion I 'd be worried if you were n't already married,
Covington."

"Worried?"

"I think Mrs. Covington must be a good deal like Marjory."

"She is," admitted Monte.

"So, if I had n't been lucky enough to find you already suited, you
might have given me a race."

"You forget that the ladies themselves have some voice in such
matters," Monte replied slowly.

"I have better reasons than you for not forgetting that," answered
Peter.

Monte started.

"I was n't thinking of you," he put in quickly. "Besides, you did n't
give Marjory a fair chance. Her aunt had just died, and she--well, she
has learned a lot since then."

"She has changed!" exclaimed Peter. "I noticed it at once; but I was
almost afraid to believe it. She seems steadier--more serious."

"Yes."

"You've seen a good deal of her recently?"

"For the last two or three weeks," answered Monte.

"You don't mind my talking to you about her?"

"Not at all."

"As you're an old friend of hers, I feel as if I had the right."

"Go ahead."

"It seems to me as if she had suddenly grown from a girl to a woman. I
saw the woman in her all the time. It--it was to her I spoke before.
Maybe, as you said, the woman was n't quite ready."

"I'm sure of it."

"You speak with conviction."

"As I told you, I've come to know her better these last few weeks than
ever before. I 've had a chance to study her. She's had a chance,
too, to study--other men. There's been one in particular--"

Peter straightened a bit.

"One in particular?" he demanded aggressively.

"No one you need fear," replied Monte. "In a way, it's because of him
that your own chances have improved."

"How?"

"It has given her an opportunity to compare him with you."

"Are you at liberty to tell me about him?"

"Yes; I think I have that right," replied Monte; "I'll not be violating
any confidences, because what I know about him I know from the man
himself. Furthermore, it was I who introduced him to her."

"Oh--a friend of yours."

"Not a friend, exactly; an acquaintance of long standing would be more
accurate. I've been in touch with him all my life, but it's only
lately I've felt that I was really getting to know him."

"Is he here in Nice now?" inquired Peter.

"No," answered