aring down upon
him.

The moment their eyes met, she signalled a glad smile and advanced with
hands extended.

"Why, Guy!" she exclaimed. "What a surprise this is!"

"And what a charming pleasure to me, Madeline," he added, taking both
her hands and holding them. "I thought you were in Paris; indeed, I
thought you would never leave the City of Boulevards."

"So did I, yet here I am; yet not for long, I trust, Guy, not for long."

"America's misfortune," he whispered.

"Or fortune!" she laughed. "It's merely a matter of viewpoint. To those
who have knowledge of the comparatively recent past, Madeline Spencer
may be a _persona non_. However--" with a shrug of her shapely shoulders
and an indifferent lift of her fine hands. "Won't you sit down, Mr.
Harleston; that is, if you're not afraid for your reputation. I assume
that here you have a reputation to protect."

"I'm quite sure that my reputation, whatever it be, won't suffer by
what you intimate!" he smiled, and handed her into a chair.

"You were much surprised to see me, _n'est-ce pas_?" she asked low,
leaning close.

"Much more than much," he replied confidentially.

"Honest?" she asked, still low and close.

"Much more than honest," he answered. "It's been a long time since we
met."

"Three months!"

"Three months is much more than long--sometimes."

She gave him an amused smile.

"I was thinking of you only last night," he volunteered.

"What suggested me?" she asked quickly.

"I suppose it must have been your proximity," he replied easily and
instantly.

"Wireless," she laughed, "or community of interests?"

"I don't know--the impression was vivid enough, while it lasted, for you
to have been in the room."

"Maybe I was--in spirit."

"I'm sure of it," he replied. "How long have you been in Washington,
Madeline?"

"You should have felt my proximity as soon as I arrived," she responded.

"I felt it nearing when you left Paris--and growing closer as time went
on. You see, I have a remarkable intuition as--to you."

"Charming!" she trilled. "Why not get a _penchant_ for me, as well?"

"Maybe I have--and don't venture to declare myself."

"You!" she mocked

"Meaning that I can't get a _penchant_, or that I am not afraid to
declare?"

"Both!" she laughed. "Now quit talking nonsense and tell me about
yourself. What have you been doing, and what are you doing?"

"At the very profitable and busy occupation of killing time," he
replied