id, in a low voice. "It would. But perhaps it would bring me
nearer to my unhappy boy. He seems so far away."

I rang the bell and summoned Carlotta.

"Perhaps you had better not say who you are," I suggested.

When Carlotta entered, he rose and looked at her---oh, so wistfully.

"This, Carlotta," said I, "is a friend of mine, who would like to make
your acquaintance."

She advanced shyly and held out a timid hand. Obviously she was on
her best behaviour. I thanked heaven she had tried her unsuccessful
experiment of powder and paint on my vile body and not on that of a
stranger.

"Do you--do you like England?" asked the old man.

"Oh, very--very much. Every one is so kind to me. It is a nice place."

"It is the best place in the world to be young in," said he.

"Is it?" said Carlotta, with the simplicity of a baby.

"The very best."

"But is it not good to be old in?"

"No country is good for that."

The old man sighed and took his leave. I accompanied him to the front
door.

"I don't know what to say, Sir Marcus. She moves me strangely. I never
expected such sweet innocence. For my boy's sake, I would take her
in--but his mother knows nothing about it--save that the boy is dead. It
would kill her."

The tears rolled down the old man's cheeks. I grasped him by the hand.

"She shall come to no manner of harm beneath my roof," said I.

Carlotta was waiting for me in the drawing-room. She looked at me in a
perplexed, pitiful way.

"Seer Marcous?"

"Yes?"

"Am I to marry him?"

"Marry whom?"

"That old gentleman. I must, if you tell me. But I do not want to marry
him."

It took me a minute or two to arrive at her oriental point of view.
No woman could be shown off to a man except in the light of a possible
bride. I think it sometimes good to administer a shock to Carlotta, by
way of treatment.

"Do you know who that old gentleman was?" said I.

"No."

"It was Harry's father."

"Oh!" she said, with a grimace. "I am sorry I was so nice to him."

What the deuce am I to do with her?

I lectured her for a quarter of an hour on the ethics of the situation.
I think I only succeeded in giving her the impression that I was in
a bad temper. So much did I sympathise with Harry that I forbore to
acquaint her with the fact that he was a married man when he enticed her
away from Alexandretta.

CHAPTER VI

June 1st

Sebastian Pasquale dined with me this evening. Antoinette, forgetful