ou would have
more to say for yourself. Do you know, I believe it's not a case you have
at all, but a grudge. I believe you are envious; that you'd like to be a
tenor, and a perfect lady-killer!" She rose, smiling, and paused with her
hand on the door of her stateroom. "Anyhow, thank you for a pleasant
evening. And, by the way, dream of me tonight, and not of either of those
ladies who sat beside you. It does not matter much whom we live with in
this world, but it matters a great deal whom we dream of." She noticed
his bricky flush. "You are very naive, after all, but, oh, so cautious!
You are naturally afraid of everything new, just as I naturally want to
try everything: new people, new religions--new miseries, even. If only
there were more new things--If only you were really new! I might learn
something. I'm like the Queen of Sheba--I'm not above learning. But you,
my friend, would be afraid to try a new shaving soap. It isn't
gravitation that holds the world in place; it's the lazy, obese cowardice
of the people on it. All the same"--taking his hand and smiling
encouragingly--"I'm going to haunt you a little. _Adios!_"

When Kitty entered her state-room, Celine, in her dressing-gown, was
nodding by the window.

"Mademoiselle found the fat gentleman interesting?" she asked. "It is
nearly one."

"Negatively interesting. His kind always say the same thing. If I could
find one really intelligent man who held his views, I should adopt them."

"Monsieur did not look like an original," murmured Celine, as she began
to take down her lady's hair.

* * * * *

McKann slept heavily, as usual, and the porter had to shake him in
the morning. He sat up in his berth, and, after composing his hair with
his fingers, began to hunt about for his clothes. As he put up the
window-blind some bright object in the little hammock over his bed caught
the sunlight and glittered. He stared and picked up a delicately turned
gold slipper.

"Minx! hussy!" he ejaculated. "All that tall talk--! Probably got it from
some man who hangs about; learned it off like a parrot. Did she poke this
in here herself last night, or did she send that sneak-faced Frenchwoman?
I like her nerve!" He wondered whether he might have been breathing
audibly when the intruder thrust her head between his curtains. He was
conscious that he did not look a Prince Charming in his sleep. He dressed
as fast as he could, and, when he was ready