young lady was entirely devoted to the handsome Bindo. Both manner
and glances betrayed it. I saw him look at Blythe, and knew that they
were working in accord towards some prearranged end.

Presently a noisy party of American girls who had just returned from
"Monty" entered and sat close to them, calling for tea. Therefore the
trio rose and went out into the evening dusk. They wished, it seemed, to
talk in private, and they did so until, half an hour later, I received
orders to bring round the car, and drove them all three back to Nice,
which we reached in plenty of time for dinner.

"Now, you will not forget, Gabrielle? You're sure?" said Bindo in French
as he handed her out of the car and shook her hand as he bared his head.

"I have promised, m'sieur," was her reply in a low, rather musical
voice. "I shall not forget."

And then she bowed to Blythe, ascended the steps, and disappeared into
the hotel.

Her quietness and neatness of dress were, to me, attractive. She was a
dainty little thing, and yet her plain black dress, so well cut, was
really very severe. She had the manner of a lady, sweet and demure. The
air of the woman-of-the-world was, somehow, entirely absent.

Well, to confess it, I found myself admiring her very much. She was, I
thought, delightful--one of the prettiest, sweetest girls I had ever
seen.

Evidently our run to Beaulieu and back was her first experience of
motoring, for she laughed with girlish delight when, on an open piece of
road here and there, I put on a "move." And as she disappeared into the
hotel she turned and waved her tiny black-gloved hand back at the
handsome Bindo.

"Done, my dear chap!" chuckled Blythe in a low voice to his companion as
the neat figure disappeared behind the glass swing-doors. "The rest is
easy--if we keep up pluck."

"It's a big thing, of course; but I'm sanguine enough," declared my
employer. "That little girl is a perfect brick. She's entirely
unsuspicious. Flatter and court a woman, and if she falls in love with
you she'll go any length to serve you!"

"You're a splendid lover!" declared Sir Charles as he mounted into the
car beside the Count, while the latter, laughing lightly, bent to me,
saying--

"Back to Monte Carlo, as quick as we can get."

I slipped along out of Nice, through Villefranche, round Beaulieu,
slowing up for the corners, but travelling sharply on the open road, and
we were soon back at the Paris.

Having put the car int