id not dare to move them. She was paralyzed, as
if her fingers had met some cold, strange hand. For one second, two
seconds, three seconds, she sat there transfixed, fearing, if she moved
as much as a muscle, that something would spring at her from
below--some awful fact.

Then finally she did move. She moved slowly, with her eyes closed.
Then, suddenly opening them wide, she saw her fingers stained carmine.
She knew then why Monte had smiled. It was like him to do that.
Running swiftly to her room, she called Marie as she ran.

"Marie--my hat! Your hat! Hurry!"

"Oh, mon Dieu!" exclaimed Marie. "Has anything happened?"

"I have just learned what has already happened," she answered. "But do
not alarm madame."

It was impossible not to alarm madame.

The mere fact that they were going out alarmed madame. Marjory stopped
in the hall and quite coolly worked on her gloves.

"We are going for a little walk in the sunshine," she said. "Will you
not come with us?"

Decidedly madame would not. She was too weak and faint. She should
send for a friend to stay with her while she rested on her bed.

"That is best for you," nodded Marjory. "Au revoir."

With Marie by her side, she took her little walk in the sunshine,
without hurrying, as far as around the first corner. Then she signaled
for a cab, and showed the driver a louis d'or.

"Hotel Normandie. This is for you--if you make speed," she said.

It was a wonder the driver was not arrested within a block; but it was
nothing less than a miracle that he reached the hotel without loss of
life. A louis d'or is a great deal of money, but these Americans are
all mad. When Marie followed her mistress from the cab, she made a
little prayer of thanks to the bon Dieu who had saved her life.

Mademoiselle inquired of the clerk for Monsieur Covington.

Yes, Monsieur Covington had reached the hotel some fifteen minutes
before. But he was ill. He had met with an accident. Already a
surgeon was with him.

"He--he is not badly injured?" inquired Marjory.

"I do not know," answered the clerk. "He was carried to his room in a
faint. He was very white."

"I will wait in the writing-room. When the surgeon comes down I wish
to see him. At once--do you understand?"

"Yes, mademoiselle."

Marie suspected what had happened. Monsieur Covington, too, had
presented the driver with a louis d'or, and--miracles do not occur
twice in one day.

Marjory seated h