particular man; for he was one of those whom the
man bored out and out.

The Schweizerhof Quai is long, but not so long but that you may meet any
one for whom you chance to be searching within ten minutes of the time
of your setting out. The young American was favored by good luck, and in
less than half that time returned to Rosina's bench, his capture safely
in tow. She rose to receive them with the radiant countenance of a
doll-less child who is engaged in negotiating the purchase of one which
can both walk and talk. Indeed her joy was so delightfully spontaneous
and unaffected that a bright reflection of it appeared in the shadows of
those other eyes which were now meeting hers for the first time.

"Shall we walk on?" she suggested; "that is the pleasantest, to walk and
talk, don't you think?"

Von Ibn stood stock-still before her.

"What will monsieur do?" he asked, with a glance at the other man.

"He will enjoy walking," Rosina answered.

"But I shall not. I find nothing so tiresome as trying to walk with two
people. One must always be leaning forward to hear, or else hearing what
is not amusing."

After which astonishing beginning he waited, pulling his moustache as he
contemplated them both. The American glanced at Rosina as much as to
say, "There, I told you that he was the worst ever!" But Rosina only
smiled cheerfully, saying to her countryman:

"Since Herr von Ibn feels as he does, I think _you'd_ better go and
study the Lion or meditate the glaciers, and leave me here with this
lion to do either or both."

The American laughed. He might not have been so amused except that he
knew that she knew all about the girl in Smith College. Such things
count sadly against one's popularity, and being a man of sense he
recognized the fact.

"At your service, madame," he said; "I'm going to turn the care of you
over to our friend for the remainder of the promenade hour. He will no
doubt appreciate to the fullest extent the honor of the transferred
charge."

Von Ibn bowed.

"I do appreciate," he said gravely; "thank you. Good-morning."

Then as the other walked away he turned to Rosina.

"Was I impolite to him?" he asked, in quite the tone of an old and
intimate friend.

"Yes, very," she answered, nodding.

"You are then displeased?"

"Not at all; I wanted him to go myself."

"Ah, yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "you feel as I. Is it not always
_ungemuthlich_, three people together?"

"Always."

He