It will be just a formal call--mutual introductions--and, later, an
invitation from Mrs. Ames to Mrs. Hawley-Crowles. Meantime, I want you
to get Mrs. Hawley-Crowles involved in a financial way, and shear her
of every penny! Do you understand?"

Ames looked at her quizzically. Then he broke into another sharp
laugh. "My dear," said he, taking her hand, "you are charming this
evening. Added years only make you more beautiful."

"Nonsense, Will!" she deprecated, although the smile she gave him
attested her pleasure in the compliment. "Well," she continued
briskly, "if I'm so beautiful, you can't help loving me; and if you
love me, you will do what I ask."

He playfully pinched her cheek. "Why, poor old Jim Crowles! Really,
I've long since forgotten him. Do you realize that that was more than
ten years ago?"

"Please don't mention years, dear," she murmured, shuddering a little.
"Tell me, what can we do to teach this fat hussy a lesson?"

"Well," he suggested, laughing, "we might get Ketchim after her, to
sell her a wad of his worthless stocks; then when he goes down, as he
is going one of these days, we will hope that it will leave her on the
rocks of financial ruin, eh?"

"What's Ketchim promoting?" she asked. "I know nothing about him."

"Why, among other innocent novelties, a scheme bearing the sonorous
title of Simiti Development Company, I am told by my brokers."

"Simiti! Why--I've heard Carmen mention that name. I wonder--"

"Well, and who is Carmen?" he asked with a show of real interest.

"My little friend--the one and only honest person I've ever dealt
with, excepting, of course, present company."

"The amendment is accepted. And now where does this Carmen enter the
game?"

"Why, she's--surely you know about her!"

"If I did I should not ask." "Well, she is a little Colombian--"

"Colombian!"

"Yes. They say she's an Inca princess. Came up with the engineers who
went down there for Ketchim to examine the Molino properties. She
lived all her life in a town called Simiti until she came up here."

Ames leaned over and looked steadily into the fire. "Never heard of
the place," he murmured dreamily.

"Well," said the Beaubien eagerly, "she's a--a wonderful child! I'm
different when I'm with her."

He roused from his meditations and smiled down at the woman. "Then I'd
advise you not to be with her much, for I prefer you as you are."

They sat some minutes in silence. Then the woman looked up at