woman I would
die for."

"If you were a man," he replied, "you would probably find some one
whom you preferred to live for. Do you know, you are rather a
morbid sort of person, Miss Zoe?"

"Ah, I like that!" she declared. "I will not be called Miss Leneveu
any more by you. You must call me Miss Zoe, please,--Zoe, if you
like."

"Zoe, by all means. Under the circumstances, I think it is only
fitting."

His eyes wandered across the room again.

"Ah!" she cried softly, "you, too, are coming under the spell, then.
I was reading about her only the other day. They say that so many
men fall in love with her--so many men to whom she gives no
encouragement at all."

Laverick looked into his companion's face.

"Come," he said, "my heart is not so easily won. I can assure you
that I never aspire to so mighty a personage as a Covent Garden star.
Don't you know that she gets a salary of five hundred pounds a week,
and wears ropes of pearls which would represent ten times my entire
income? Heaven alone knows what her gowns cost!"

"After all, though," murmured Zoe, "she is a woman. See, your
friend is coming to speak to you."

Bellamy was indeed crossing the room. He nodded to Laverick and
bowed to his companion.

"Forgive my intruding, Laverick," he said. "You do remember me, I
hope? Bellamy, you know."

"I remember you quite well. We used to play together at Lord's,
even after we left school."

Bellamy smiled.

"That is so," he answered. "I see by the papers that you have kept
up your cricket. Mine, alas! has had to go. I have been too much
of a rolling stone lately. Do you know that I have come to ask you
a favor?"

"Go ahead," Laverick interposed.

"Mademoiselle Idiale has a fancy to meet you," Bellamy explained.
"You know, or I dare say you have heard, what a creature of whims
she is. If you won't come across and be introduced like a good
fellow, she probably won't speak a word all through supper-time,
go off in a huff, and my evening will be spoiled."

Laverick laughed heartily. A little smile played at the corner of
Zoe's lips--nevertheless, she was looking slightly anxious.

"Under those circumstances," remarked Laverick, "perhaps I had
better go. You will understand," he added, with a glance at Zoe,
"that I cannot stay for more than a second."

"Naturally," Bellamy answered. "If Mademoiselle really has anything
to say to you, I will, if I am permitted, return for a moment."

L