other woman.

She gave a subdued exclamation, arose and threaded her way to the
opposite side of the corridor.

Harleston, glancing back, saw the move, and swinging over he followed.
He would speak to her--meanwhile, he was looking at her. So far, at
least, both were good to look at; they must be good to look at in this
business, it is part of the stock in trade.

"Good afternoon, Madame X," he said, bowing before her.

"Why, how do you do, Mr. Harleston," she smiled, giving him her hand
and making room beside her on the settee. "I'm delighted to see you,
just delighted!"

"It is nice to meet again, isn't it?" he returned. "When did you get to
town?"

"Only yesterday! You live in Washington, now, don't you?"

"Yes, off and on. It's my headquarters for refitting and starting
afresh. What do you say to a turn at the _dansant_?"

"I'm ready, I'm sure," she replied. "Afterward we'll--"

"Discuss other matters!" he interjected.

She gave him an amused look, and they passed down the corridor and up
the marble steps to the elevator.

They were dancing the _Maxixe_ when they entered.

"Do you mind if we don't do it on the heels?" said she. "I think it's
prettier the other way."

"So do I," said he, and they drifted down the room.

He knew almost everyone on the floor; the women nodded to him, then
stared coldly at his companion; the men too stared at her--but not
coldly--and when they thought about it, which was seldom of late, nodded
to him, and resumed their staring.

And Harleston did not wonder--indeed, had it been otherwise, it would
have argued a sudden paucity of appreciation on the part of the smart
set there assembled. For this slender young person in black, a small hat
on her head, topping hair of flaming red, an exquisite figure and a
charming pair of slender high-arched feet, was worth anyone's staring,
be it either coldly or with frank interest. And she did not seem to know
it; which in this day of smug and blatant personal appreciation of one's
good points--feminine points--is something of a rarity in the sex. It
may be, however that Madame X was fully aware of her beauty, but she was
modest about it, or seemed to be; which amounts to the same thing.

They sat down at a remote table and Harleston ordered two cold
drinks--an apollinaris with a dash of lemon for her, a Jerry Hill for
himself. He noticed that the men were looking and wavering and he
deliberately turned his chair around and gave th