irritable. I comprehend I was in fault. But it is so
easy to recommence, and to range oneself. I accept your assurances
regarding your cousin. It is all so simple. You shall not return to me.
You shall continue your admirable work. But I will return to you. I
will join you at the villa. My society cannot fail to be of pleasure to
your cousin, if he is such a person as you describe. In a _milieu_
removed from care and trivialities I will continue my poem. I may even
dedicate it to your cousin. I may make his name immortal. If he is a
person of taste and ideals, he cannot fail to appreciate so magnificent
a compliment. You will place this before him. You will explain to him
how necessary to me is your presence. He will be glad to cooperate in
procuring it for me. He will understand that in making these
propositions I offer him a unique opportunity, I behave towards him
with signal generosity. And if, at first, the intrusion of a stranger
into his household should appear inconvenient, let him but pause a
little. He will find his reward in the development of my genius and in
the spectacle of our mutual felicity."

Destournelle spoke with great rapidity. The street which they had now
entered, from the far end of the piazza, was narrow. It was encumbered
by a string of laden mules, by a stream of foot passengers.
Interruption of his monologue, short of raising her voice to screaming
pitch, was impossible to Madame de Vallorbes. But when he ceased she
addressed him, and her lips were drawn away from her pretty teeth
viciously.

"Oh! you unspeakable idiot!" she said. "Have you no remnant of
decency?"

"Do you mean to imply that Sir Richard Calmady would have the
insolence, is so much the victim of insular prejudice as, to object to
our intimacy?"

Madame de Vallorbes clapped her hands together in a sort of frenzy.

"Idiot, idiot," she repeated. "I wish I could kill you."

Suddenly M. Paul Destournelle had all his wits about him.

"Ah!" he said, with a short laugh, curiously resembling in its malice
the bleating of the little goats, "I perceive that which constitutes
the obstacle to our union. It shall be removed."

He lifted his Panama hat with studied elegance, and turning down a
break-neck, side alley, called, over his shoulder:--

"_Abientot tres chere madame._"

CHAPTER VII

SPLENDIDE MENDAX

Unpunctuality could not be cited as among Madame de Vallorbes'
offenses. Yet, on the morning in question, sh