the most extraordinary thing that ever happened."

"The world is equally astonished--and resentful--at every new
discovery, but in a short time accepts it as a commonplace. The layman
resents all new ideas, but the adjustment of the human mind to the
inevitable is common even among savages." Her slight affectation of
pedantry was very well done and Clavering could not detect the flicker
of a lash as her eyes rested indulgently upon her tormentor.

"Well, I don't see what that has to do with it. Anyhow, it must make
you feel terribly isolated."

Madame Zattiany shrugged her shoulders. She could make this common
gesture foreign, and her accent was a trifle more marked as she
answered, "Here, possibly, but not in Europe, where the treatment has
been known and practised for several years. It may interest you to
hear that only yesterday I had a letter from a friend in Vienna telling
me that an elderly countess, a great beauty some forty years ago, had
announced triumphantly that once more men were following her on the
street."

Mrs. de Lacey burst into a peal of girlish laughter. "Pardon me, dear
Madame Zattiany. We are used to it in your case, now that we have got
over the shock, but it does seem too funny. And Europe almost manless.
What--what will the poor girls do?"

"Scratch their eyes out," said Clavering, who could contain himself no
longer.

Mrs. de Lacey made no attempt to conceal the wicked sparkle in her eyes
as she turned to him. "How crude! I suppose it was you who set those
dreadful newspapers on poor Madame Zattiany." She turned back to her
hostess. "That has been a shocking ordeal for you. You know how we
always avoid that sort of thing. We've felt for you--I wanted to come
and tell you--you don't mind my telling you now?"

"Your sympathy is very sweet. But I really have enjoyed it! You see,
my dear child, when one has lived as long as I have, a new sensation is
something to be grateful for."

"Oh, but----" Mrs. de Lacey's bright eyes were now charged with
ingenuous curiosity. "You don't really mean--we've had the most
furious arguments--_couldn't_ you fall in love again? I don't mean
like silly old women with boys, but _really_--like a young woman?
Please let me have my little triumph. I've sworn you could. And then
the poor men----"

"Upon my word!" Madame Zattiany laughed outright. "This has gone far
enough. I refuse to be the exclusive topic of conversation any longer.