them--or for other more obscure reasons. They gave her what they
could--extemporary gifts some of them--a tawdry ring or a flower which
she stuck jauntily among the outrageous feathers. The significantly
small parcels she did not open--either from idle good nature or from
sheer indifference. Stonehouse wondered what Cosgrave's little box
contained. Probably a year or two of the mosquito-infested swamp to
which he would soon return to boast of this night's extravaganza.

"And you, _Monsieur le docteur_?"

For he had gone on eating and drinking with apparent tranquillity.

"Oh, I have nothing--nothing but admiration," he said smiling.

She shook her head.

"_Ca ne va pas_. The chief guest. Ah, no! That is not kind. A
birthday--_c'est une chose bien serieuse, voyons_. Who knows? Per'aps
you never 'ave another chance--and then you 'ave remorse--'orrible,
terrible remorse. Or do you never 'ave remorse either, _Monsieur le
docteur_?"

"No--not yet."

"You must not run ze risk, then."

He thought savagely.

"If I had a diamond stud she would make me give it her."

He took a shilling from his pocket and laid it gravely in the midst of
her trophies.

"Is that enough?"

And then before he could draw back she had kissed him between the eyes.

"_Quite_, then. I keep it for a mascot, and you will remember
to-morrow morning, when you are ver' grave and important with some poor
frightened patient, that Gyp Labelle kiss you last night, and that you
are not different from ze others, after all. And I will take my
shilling from under my pillow, and say: 'Poor Gyp, that's what you're
worth, my friend!'"

"He doesn't know you yet."

Robert Stonehouse looked up sharply. The interruption had started a
new train of thought. Beyond the flushed face of the man opposite him,
he could see the empty stalls, row after row of gaunt-ribbed and
featureless spectators, watching him. The play had become a nightmare
farce in which he had chosen a ludicrous, impossible part. But he had
to go on now.

"Except for Cosgrave there, I've known Mademoiselle Labelle longer than
any of you. I've known her ever since I was a boy."

He felt rather than saw their expressions change. She too stared with
an arrested interest, but he looked away from her to Cosgrave, smiling
ironically. If it humiliated her and made her ridiculous too--well,
that was what he wanted. He wanted to pay her back--most of all for
the excitement boil