mewhat in the
American style, but as she was very beautiful and had committed none but
the most trifling indiscretions, many things were overlooked in her
which in other girls would not have been tolerated.

The banker was an old man and excessively thin, he held himself with
English stiffness; a muscular contraction affected his upper lip. He
stood well at Court. He had, it was said, made large loans at the time
of the _coup d'etat_ in '51, and Bonaparte's accomplices called him
their friend.

"I am deeply indebted to you, Mademoiselle," said Goutran, "for your
acceptance of an invitation which I was almost afraid to send."

Carmen was very pretty, as we have said. Her dress was cut very low, and
revealed too much of an admirably modelled bust. Her manner was not that
of a young girl, it was more assured. But she was charming.

She laughed, and said, in reply, "You are my especial artist, you know,
and history tells us that even queens visit their painters--"

"For example, the Duchess of Ferrara!" said a young man to a friend, in
a low voice. He had caught her words as he passed, and hazarded this
allusion, somewhat too broad, perhaps, to the visit paid by the Duchess
to Titian, when she was painted in the costume of mother Eve. He
undoubtedly supposed that the young lady would not understand his
remark, and yet it was plain that she with difficulty restrained a
laugh.

She led Goutran to the picture gallery. "I am told," she said, "that you
have two great surprises for your guests, to-night."

"Oh! no; only one. You have heard of Jane Zeld, that marvelous bird who
has come to us from Finland, Lapland, or some other place--we will call
it Russia?"

"But I was told that she had refused to sing in Paris at
present--declined even to go to Compiegne."

"Yes, but for you," and Goutran bowed low, "I have obtained what was
refused to an Emperor!"

He pressed Carmen's arm against his own, as he spoke.

The girl turned and looked him full in the face for a moment. "Take me
to my father," she said.

Was it fancy, or did she emphasize the two words, "my father," in an odd
sort of way?

As in silence he obeyed her request, which though brief, was by no means
stern, a singular scene was taking place.

Signor Fagiano, who talked little, was wandering about through the
salons. Suddenly he found himself face to face with Monsieur de
Laisangy.

Signor Fagiano started back, and half covered his face with his hand,