y? You are mad,
aren't you?"

"Raving, my dear. I've been certified for two years come Ember. Out
on licence under the new Cock and Bull Bill. You know, 'And your
petitioners will ever Pray--'"

"I suppose you do have lucid intervals?"

"Only on third Tuesdays."

"Such as to-day."

"By Jove, so it is. I thought one was about due. Now I come to think
of it, I nearly had one just now."

"When?"

"When you asked me what I should like."

In silence she traced a pattern upon the white cloth with a small pink
finger. I watched it, and wondered whether her eyes were smiling. I
couldn't see them, but her mouth looked as if it wanted to. Then:

"I think you'd better tell me when the interval's coming," she said
quietly. "One usually goes out--"

"You're thinking of Plays," said I. "Between Acts II and III ten
minutes and the safety curtain. But with Life and fools it's
different. You don't go out in these intervals."

"No?"

"No," I said. "On the contrary, it's where you come in."

She looked up, smiling, at that. I addressed her eyes. "You see, in
Life it's just the intervals that count--those rare hours when, though
the band's not playing, there's music in the air; though the world's
standing still, and no one's looking on, there's most afoot; though
the--"

Here the door opened, and Madame came in, Yvonne at her heels.

"It is the interval," she explained. "Thank you."

Oh, but she was in fine fettle, was Madame.

"My voice is good to-night. It is you two that have helped me. You
are so young and goodly. And I have a box, the Royal box--they are not
using it, you see--if you would like to hear the rest of the opera.
Yes? But you must come back and say 'Good night' to me afterwards."

Our murmured thanks she would have none of. Supper and a box was
little enough. Had she not nearly killed us both an hour ago?

"But now I shall sing to you, and you will forgive me. I am in voice
to-night. Is it not so, Yvonne?"

"But, Madame!"

The ecstasy of Yvonne was almost pathetic.

The ceremony with which we were installed in the Royal box was worthy
of the Regent himself. But then Madame was a very great lady. The
lights in the house did not go down for a minute, and I peered over the
rim of the balcony to see if I could locate Berry and Co. Suddenly I
saw Jill, and Berry next to her. He was staring straight at the Royal
box, and his face was a study. He must have seen me come