fternoon, and that then you are going to
Paris, and will not return until the wedding. You will concede the
family interviews that are absolutely necessary, I suppose?"

"I have already said so; only let them be few and short."

"Then I will not detain you longer now. You are a beautiful woman,
Zara," Francis Markrute said, as he rose and kissed her hand. "None of
the royal ladies, your ancestresses, ever looked more like a queen." And
he bowed himself out of the room, leaving her in her silence.

When she was alone she clenched her hands and walked up and down for a
few moments, and her whole serpentine body writhed with passionate anger
and pain.

Yes, she was a beautiful woman, and had a right to her life and joys
like another--and now she was to be tied, and bound again to a husband!

_"Les Infames!"_ she hissed aloud. "But for that part, I will not bear
it! Until the wedding I will dissemble as best I can--but afterwards--!"

And if Lord Tancred could have seen her then he would have known that
all the courage he had used when he faced the big lion would be needed
soon again.

But before a servant brought up the envelope with the notes she had
calmed herself and was preparing to go out. The good part of the news
must be told to the two poor ones in their Tottenham Court Road retreat.

As she sped along in the taxi--her uncle had placed one of his several
motors at her disposal, but it was not for such localities--she argued
with herself that it would be wiser not to give Mimo all the money at
once. She knew that that would mean not only the necessary,
instantaneous move to a better lodging, but an expensive dinner at the
nearest restaurant as well, and certainly bonbons and small presents for
Mirko, and new clothes; twice as much would be spent, if credit could be
obtained; and then there would be the worry of the bills and the
anxiety. If only Mirko would consent to be parted from his fond and
irresponsible parent for a time it would be so much better for his
health, and his chance of becoming of some use in the world. Mimo always
meant so kindly and behaved so foolishly! With the money she personally
would get for her bargain Mimo should, somehow, be made comfortable in
some studio in Paris where he could paint those pictures which would not
sell, and might see his friends--he had still a few who, when his
clothes were in a sufficiently good state, welcomed him and his
charming, debonair smile. Mimo could