,' he said; 'at least she is handsome, but--' and here he paused
and then added, 'I hope before long to have the pleasure of presenting
you to my wife.'

"I thanked him."

"One moment," said Merton, "before you go on. It is clear that the
woman is a lady; that he was wildly eager to catch her, and especially
at that time; that, being foiled, he lost his temper; that he believes
you, or makes believe to do so; and, finally, that he is sensible
enough to know that a duel with an American secretary is undesirable.
You let him off easy."

"I did, but I had the same kind of reason to avoid a hostile meeting
that he has. Moreover, he is really a charming fellow, and it must
have cost him something to apologize."

"But about the woman who set all these pots a-boiling--I beg pardon,
simmering--"

"Oh, the woman. I hope I may never see her again."

"You will. That fellow Alphonse will find her."

"I hope not. But what a mess! _cherchez la femme!_"

"That we must do," laughed Merton. "The mosquitoes illustrate the
proverb: only the females bite. Good, that, isn't it? But what next? I
interrupted you. You are out of it, but where do I come in? What about
Porthos and that little red weasel Aramis?"

"And D'Artagnan?" I laughed.

"If you like, Greville. You are complimentary. Was that all?"

"No. The count said, 'I will at once write to Captain Merton and
apologize, but I fancy my friends have already done so.' I was about
to take leave of the count when in walked the baron, behind the
biggest mustache in Paris, a ponderous person. 'Shade of Dumas!' I
muttered; 'Porthos! Porthos!' Behind him was a much-made-up little
fellow, the colonel--your Aramis."

"Oh, drop him. He is what the arithmeticians call a negligible
quantity. What next?"

"The count said, 'Allow me to present M. Greville of the American
Legation--the Baron la Garde, my cousin, and the Colonel St. Pierre.'
We bowed, and the count said, 'M. Greville is somewhat concerned in
the affair in which you have been so kind as to act for me.'

"The two gentlemen looked a little bewildered, but bowed again and sat
down, while the count added: 'You may speak freely. I suppose M.
Merton explained that he was not the person.'"

"Oh, by all that's jolly! what a situation for the stage! A match,
please. What next?"

"The baron spoke first. 'I do not understand you, my dear count.'

"The count said: 'Why not? It was very simple. I presume you to have
said that yo