stay tied as I want you? She
has traveled, she has studied, she is at home with grand dukes in Nice,
and scribblers in a country village. She is wise without being solemn.
She has courage, too, or I should not be here on a mere fluke. Now, my
boy, you have given yourself due notice. Take care!"

He slipped his coat over his shoulders--and passably sturdy ones they
were--and took a final look into the glass. Not for vanity's sake;
sometimes a man's tie will show above the collar of his coat.

"Hm! I'll wager the trout are rising about this time." He imitated a
cast which was supposed to land neatly in the corner. "Ha! Struck you
that time, you beauty!" All of which proved to himself, conclusively,
that he was in normal condition. "I should get a wire to-morrow about
Breitmann. I hate to do anything that looks underhand, but he puzzles
me. There was something about the chimney to-day; I don't know what.
This is no place for him--nor for me, either," was the shrewd
supplement.

There was still some time before dinner, so he walked about, with his
hands in his pockets, and viewed the four walls of his room. He
examined the paints and admired the collection of blood-thirsty old
weapons over the mantel, but with the indirect interest of a man who is
thinking of other things. At the end, he paused before the window,
which, like the one in Breitmann's room, afforded a clear outlook to
the open waters. Night was already mistress of the sea; and below, the
village lights twinkled from various points.

Laura tried on three gowns, to the very great surprise of her maid.
Usually her mistress told her in the morning what to lay out for
dinner. Here there were two fine-looking young men about, and yet she
was for selecting the simplest gown of the three. The little French
maid did not understand the reason, nor at that moment could her
mistress have readily explained. It was easy to dress for the critical
eyes of rich young men, officers, gentlemen with titles; all that was
required was a fresh Parisian model, some jewels, and a bundle of
orchids or expensive roses. But these two men belonged to a class she
knew little of; gentlemen adventurers, who had been in strange,
unfrequented places, who had helped to make history, who received
decorations, and never wore them, who remained to the world at large
obscure and unknown.

So, with that keen insight which is a part of a well-bred, intelligent
woman--and als