h a smile.

"And declined it."

"And--declined it," she agreed.

"Well," said I, "I am not a man of half measures, as you will soon see,
Le Mire. Besides, I appreciate your power. On the day," I continued
with slow precision--"on the day that you give me a contract to adhere
to that refusal you may have my check for one million dollars."

She surprised me; I admit it. I had expected a burst of anger, with a
touch of assumed hauteur; the surrender to follow, for I had made the
stake high. But as I stood looking down at her, waiting for the flash
of her eye, I was greeted by a burst of laughter--the frank laughter of
genuine mirth. Then she spoke:

"Oh, you Americans! You are so funny! A million dollars! It is
impossible that I should be angry after such a compliment. Besides,
you are so funny! Do you not know Le Mire? Am I not a princess if I
desire it--tomorrow--today? Bah! There is the world--is it not mine?
Mrs. Lamar? Ugh! Pardon me, my friend, but it is an ugly name.

"You know my ancestors? De L'Enclos, Montalais, Maintenon, La Marana!
They were happy--in their way--and they were great. I must do nothing
unworthy of them. Set your mind at rest, Mr. Lamar; but, really, you
should have known better--you who have seen the world and Le Mire in
Paris! And now our amusement is perhaps ended? Now we must return to
that awful New York? Voila!"

Indeed I had not understood her. And how could I? There is only one
such woman in a generation; sometimes none, for nature is sparing of
her favorites. By pure luck she sat before me, this twentieth-century
Marana, and I acknowledged her presence with a deep bow of apology and
admiration.

"If you will forgive me, madame," I said, "I will--not attempt to make
reparation, for my words were not meant for you. Consider them
unspoken. As for our amusement, why need it end? Surely, we can
forget? I see plainly I am not a St. Evremond, but neither am I a
fool. My brother pleases you--well, there he is. As for myself, I
shall either stay to take care of you two children, or I shall return
to New York, as you desire."

Le Mire looked at me uncertainly for a moment, then turned to Harry and
with a fluttering gesture took his hand in her own and patted it gaily.
Then she laughed the happy laugh of a child as she said:

"Then it is well! And, monsieur, you are less an American than I
thought. By all means, stay--we shall be so jolly! Will we not, m