and Olympia."

The young man, who had kept silent till now, joined in the conversation,
but his voice was constrained, and a little husky.

"Who is this woman, Olympia?"

The other young men laughed at the question.

"Who is Olympia? Why, the most bewitching, unprincipled, delightful bit
of wickedness that has been thrown on the world for years. Don't tell us
that you are to learn anything of Olympia at this time."

"I have heard of her, and seen her too, but only as a singer. What I ask
is about her life, her principles, her character as a woman."

"And you ask that of us, my dear fellow? What nonsense! Have we not said
that she is an actress?"

"Well, what then? An actress may be well-principled, honest, honorable,
and modest, too, as any woman living. I asked if this woman, Olympia,
the patroness, mother, or what you will, of this new singer, is one of
these?"

"Don't ask any of us to endorse or condemn Olympia. We know that she
gives the most delicious little suppers in the world, sings like a
siren, smiles like an angel, and gets more and more fascinating as she
grows older, as fruit ripens with age. No one ever thinks of asking her
how old she is, or where she was born. It is enough that her beauty is
in its summer, her voice perfect, and that she, who perhaps reigned over
our fathers, holds us as her slaves. As for honor, dignity, principle,
and all that, my dear fellow, who ever expects such things in a woman
like our Olympia?"

"Yet she has had the training of this new singer."

"Training? Why it is said that the girl is really her own daughter."

"I heard you say as much," answered the young man, drily.

Then another voice broke in.

"You seem so much interested in these people, Hilton,--why not go and
see for yourself? I will introduce you."

"When?"

"To-night. The Olympia has a little supper after the opera."

"But I thought the young lady was ill."

"Oh! that will make no difference. Olympia is a woman to enjoy herself,
if Death sat next door. She will be certain to have her little supper.
Will you go? Is it an engagement? If so, I will send her a note."

"Yes, I will go."

That night Olympia held high festival at her pretty house, which
overlooked one of the loveliest parks in London. Among her guests was
young Lord Hilton, the grandson of one of the proudest old earls in the
kingdom.

Olympia was delighted at the presence of this man, who had never before
been lured into her cir