"

"I do not know," answered the nurse.

"Do you mind finding out for me?"

"If monsieur will promise to sleep after that."

"How can a man promise to sleep?"

Even under normal conditions, that was a foolish thing to promise. But
when a man was experiencing brand-new sensations--the sensations of
being engaged--it was quite impossible to make such a promise.

"Monsieur can at least promise not to talk."

"I will do that," agreed Monte.

She came back and reported that mademoiselle was sitting up, and begged
to present her regards and express the hope that he was resting
comfortably.

"Please to tell her I am, and that I hope she will now go to bed," he
answered.

Nurse Duval did that, and returned.

"What did she say?" inquired Monte.

"But, monsieur--"

She had no intention of spending the rest of the night as a messenger
between those two rooms.

"Very well," submitted Monte. "But you might tell me what she said."

"She said she was not sleepy," answered the nurse.

"I'm glad she's awake," said Monte.

Just because he was awake. In a sense, it gave them this city for
themselves. It was as if this immediately became their city. That was
not good arithmetic. Assuming that the city contained a population of
three millions,--he did not have his Baedeker at hand,--then clearly he
could consider only one three millionth part of the city as his. With
her awake in the next room, that made only two of them, so that taken
collectively they had a right to claim only two three-millionths parts
as belonging to them. Yet that was not the way it worked out. As far
as he was concerned, the other two millions nine hundred and
ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight did not exist.

There was nothing sentimental about this conclusion. He did not think
of it as it affected her--merely as it affected him. It gave him
rather a comfortable, completed feeling, as if he now had within
himself the means for peacefully enjoying life, wherever he might be,
even at thirty-two. Under the influence of this soothing thought, he
fell asleep again.

After the doctors were through with Monte the next morning, they
decided, after a consultation, that there was no apparent reason why,
during the day, Miss Stockton, if she desired, should not serve as his
nurse while Miss Duval went home to sleep.

"My assistant will come in at least twice," said Dr. Marcellin.
"Besides, you have the constitution of a p