awaits him?"

"Thank you, no; I will wait for him here. This is an interesting room. I
have never been here before."

"I know that," Millar said.

"How do you know it?" Elsa demanded with spirit.

"Oh, Heinrich told me. A lady may come here secretly every day, but when
she comes the first time it cannot be secret, even to Heinrich."

"I wish I had not come alone," Elsa declared.

"I know that also," said the imperturbable Millar.

"How do you know that?"

"Oh, Heinrich told me there was a real lady waiting."

"I am glad at least that Heinrich recognized me as such," Elsa declared
indignantly. "He is the only one who has spoken to me as if he realized
that."

"Then he must have thought you the other kind," Millar said cynically.
"Heinrich made a mistake."

"I think Heinrich is the better judge," Elsa said.

"An excellent judge, I grant you," Millar said, laughing. "He is the one
man who should have brought you here. You know only two men have the
right to open the door of a bachelor apartment to a young lady. They are
his valet and the clergyman. You may choose which of the two you would
prefer."

Elsa turned on him with eyes that flashed indignation.

"I was once left alone with a man who kissed me, and I insulted him,"
she said.

"I was once alone with a lady who insulted me and I kissed her," the
cynical person replied.

"You are horrible!" Elsa exclaimed.

Millar saw her distress and rang the bell. When Heinrich entered he
said:

"Get a little red leather pocketbook out of my overcoat."

"Oh, you need not fear; I shall not cry this morning," Elsa said.

"I am not apprehensive, but I thought you were laughing," Millar said.
"When girls laugh I fear they are going to cry. Why did you come here?"

"I want to have my portrait painted, and I shall come every day," Elsa
replied.

"You mean you want to come every day, and therefore you will have to
have your portrait painted," said the cynic.

"You are an expert word juggler," said Elsa.

"Do you know that another lady comes here to have her portrait painted?"

"Yes; that is why I am coming," Elsa declared boldly. "I want to see
whose portrait will be better."

"That is a bold challenge, my little girl; you were not so brave
yesterday."

"Yesterday I was undecided. To-day I have made up my mind to fight. You
gave me good advice."

"I have some more advice to give you to-day; we did not finish last
night."

"What is it?"

"It is thi