s name, and very dark, as befitted the other, and around his
rather melancholy eyes were those broad spaces which give genius room to
develop as it will. He had black hair, a black moustache, and a chin
which bore witness to the family opposition. Rosina, who chanced to be a
connoisseur in chins, looked upon his with deep approval.

"Do you know him?" she asked, looking up at the man beside her; "oh, if
you do, I do so wish that you would present him to me. He looks so
utterly fascinating; I am sure that I shall like to talk to him."

The American appeared frankly amused.

"I should really enjoy seeing you turned loose upon Von Ibn," he said,
"it would be such wild sport."

"Then be nice and bring him to me, and you can have all the fun of
standing by and watching us worry one another."

Her friend hesitated.

"What is it?" she asked impatiently; "why don't you go? Is there any
reason why I may not meet him? Is he a gambler who doesn't settle fair?
Has he deserted his own wife, or run away with any other man's? Does he
lie, or drink beyond the polite limit, or what?"

"Why, the truth is," said the American slowly, "many people consider him
an awful bore. The fact is, he's most peculiar. I've had him stare at me
time and again in a way that made me wonder if he was full-witted. I
don't know anything worse against him than that, though."

"If that's all," Rosina answered, laughing, "you need not fear for me.
I've lived in good society too many years not to know how to deal with a
bore. A little idiosyncrasy like that will not mar my enjoyment one bit.
Do go and get him now."

"But some consider him a very big bore indeed."

"One can see that at the first glance, and just on that account I shall
have infinite patience with him."

"I warn you beforehand that he's very much of a character."

"I always did like characters better than people who were well-behaved."

The American took one step away and then halted.

"Your mind is set upon meeting him?"

"Yes, quite; and do hurry. He may disappear."

[Illustration]

He laughed.

"Possess yourself in patience for five short minutes," he began, but she
cut his speech off.

"There, there, never mind; while you're talking he'll take a train or a
boat, and I'll be left to go geniusless to my grave."

He lifted his hat at once then and walked away without another word,
although inwardly he marvelled much that any woman should care about
meeting that man--that