ss. Force
spoke in his voice and glanced from his eyes. But the body, too,
played its part--the strong hand, the small, foot, compact, the
shoulders, the neck, the chest--these spoke too, they insisted, they
demonstrated. One could not escape from them for a moment. And the
talk never ceased.

Mary was unaccustomed to any style of conversation except that of
international society--light talk of wind and weather, of the events of
the day, of literature and art, of incidents of travel--the whole at
arm's length. Here everything was personal and almost intimate. She felt
that she herself acted upon Frans like wine. His intoxication increased;
he let himself go more and more. This excited her too much; it gave her
a feeling of insecurity. As soon as politeness allowed of it, she took
leave, nervous, confused, as a matter of fact in wild retreat. She
promised herself solemnly that she would never go back again.

Not until later in the day did she join her father and Mrs. Dawes. She
did not say a word about her meeting with Frans Roey. Nor had she done so
on the previous occasion. Mrs. Dawes told her to look at a visiting-card
which was lying on the table.

"Joergen Thiis? Is he here?"

"He has been here all winter. But he had only just heard of our
arrival."

"He asked to be remembered to you," put in Anders, who was, as usual,
sitting reading.

It was a rest even to think of Joergen Thiis. Last winter he and she had
seen a good deal of each other in Paris. Both at private houses and at
official balls at the Elysees and the Hotel de Ville he had been of
their party. He was a squire to be proud of, good-looking, gentlemanly,
courteous.

Her father mentioned that Joergen was intending to exchange into the
diplomatic service.

"Surely money is required for that?" said Mary.

"He is Uncle Klaus's heir," replied Mrs. Dawes.

"Are you certain of this?"

"No, not certain."

"And has not Uncle Klaus lost a good deal of money lately?"

Mrs. Dawes did not answer. Krog said:

"We have heard something to that effect."

"In that case will he be able to help him?"

No one replied.

"Then it does not seem to me that Joergen's prospects are particularly
good," concluded Mary.

Roey was in France on special Government business, which often took him
away from Paris. He had to go just at this time, so Mary felt safe. But
one morning when she made an early call on Alice--the two had arranged
to go into town together--t