id Bertie, grinning. "What'll you give to know
what the duchess told me about you?"

"Nothing," I said.

"Well, then, I'll be generous and let you have it for nothing. She told
me she thought she recognized you, but until she heard the name, she
supposed she must be mistaken; that it was only a remarkable resemblance
between my stepmother's maid and a girl who'd run away under very
peculiar circumstances from the house of a friend of hers. What do you
think of that?"

"That the duchess is a cat," I replied, promptly.

"Most women are."

"In _your_ set, perhaps."

"She said there was a man mixed up with the story, a rich middle-aged
chap of the name of Charretier, with a big house in Paris and a new
chateau he'd built, near Fontainebleau. She gave me a card to him."

"He's sure not to be at home," I remarked.

Bertie's face fell; but he brightened again. "Anyhow you admit you know
him."

"One has all sorts of acquaintances," I drawled, with a shrug of my
shoulders.

"You're a sly little kitten--if you're not a cat. You heard me say I
thought of calling at the chateau."

"And you heard me say the owner wasn't at home."

"You seem well acquainted with his movements."

"I happened to see him, on his way south, at Avignon, some days ago."

"Did he see you?"

"Isn't that my affair--and his?"

"By Jove--you've got good cheek, to talk like this to your mistress's
stepson! But maybe you think you won't have difficulty in finding a
place that pays you better--what?"

"I couldn't find one to pay me much worse."

"Look here, my dear, I'm not out huntin' for repartee. I want to have an
understanding with you."

"I don't see why."

"Yes, you do, well enough. You know I like you--in spite of your
impudence."

"And I dislike you because of yours. Oh, do go away and leave me, Mr.
Stokes."

"I won't. I've got a lot to say to you. I've only just begun, but you
keep interruptin' me, and I can't get ahead."

"Finish then."

"Well, what I want to say is this. I always meant we should stop at
Fontainebleau."

"Oh--you damaged your stepfather's car on purpose! He would be obliged
to you."

"Not quite that. I intended to get them to have tea here, and while
they were moonin' about I was going to have a chat with you. I was goin'
to tell you about that card to Charretier, and somethin' else. That the
duchess asked me where we would stop in Paris, and I told her at the
best there is, of course--Hotel Athenee.