when Herman entered the room. All three
were silent and Herman looked at them in surprise.

"What is this--a conspiracy?" he asked gayly.

"Oh, no, merely a conversation," Millar said.

"Well, Karl, how are you getting along with Elsa?" Herman asked, taking
the boy by the arm and walking off with him.

Olga watched them as they disappeared, going into the ballroom, Karl
evidently reluctant to be taken away. Then she turned to Millar.

"What did you tell him about my cloak?"

"About the cloak? Nothing."

"You did not tell him----"

"What?"

"He stared at me as if he thought--thought I had on only this cloak."

"That is exactly what I told him," Millar assured her.

"Oh, how could you?"

"Now don't be shocked," Millar said cynically. "You knew it. The moment
you entered the room you realized that I had told him. And what is more
you liked it."

"How dare you!" Olga gasped, "If I had understood----"

"If you had understood, would you have taken off the cloak?"

"Yes."

"Well, now you understand, why do you not take it off?"

Olga raised her head and looked straight into Millar's eyes. She said
not a word, but drew her cloak more closely about her with a movement
that sent a thrill of suspicion and surprise through him.

"Madam, you didn't really?" he cried in amazement.

"Do you think I am a child?" she asked. "Do you imagine that I did not
understand your suggestion from the very first? You wanted me to fool
Karl. Perhaps I have fooled you. How do you know I am not nude beneath
this cloak?"

"Madam!" Millar cried in wide-eyed amazement.

"Now let us see if you will take a chance," Olga said. "Give me your
arm, my dear doctor, and we will walk together through the ballroom."

Millar was at a loss for a moment. His imperturbable calm was broken.
Olga had matched her woman's intuition against his cunning and had won.
But his bewilderment gave way to undisguised admiration, and, bowing as
gallantly as a youthful sweetheart, he gave her his arm.

As they were about to leave, however, Karl suddenly barred their way,
coming hurriedly in from the ballroom.

"Are you coming in with us, Karl?" Olga asked, as they paused.

"No," Karl almost shouted; "and you are not going--you stay here."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said. You stay here. And you, too," he added to Millar.

He turned and closed the ballroom door. Then he faced them again.

"We will settle this thing right here. Take off th