w on a mountain, as it would
not warm for this galaxy of bewitchments, and his quiet civility was
but a sharper pin-prick, I should fancy, to a woman's vanity.

The little scene was not long in playing, however. Soon the Baronessa
swept to her friend's side, and bore her away, like a large steam-tug
making off against wind and tide with a dainty sailing yacht.

Ignoring the subject of the lady; Boy began questioning me about the
business of the bag, thanking me again more cordially for what I had
done, when I had answered.

"I must have a bath and change now," said I at last. "At what time
shall we dine?"

"We? You will be dining with your new friend."

"She's an old friend, if one counts by time of acquaintance, and
charming, as you've seen; still, we're rather tired perhaps, and not
up to dinner pitch. I'm not sure but we'd get on better alone
together, you and I."

"I've taken a private sitting-room, and I'm going to dine there."

"Will you have me with you?"

"If you like."

"It will be a good opportunity to get your advice."

The Boy did not answer; but when we sat at table, and had talked for a
while of indifferent things, he said abruptly: "What were you going to
ask me?"

"Your advice as to whether it would be well to fall in love with the
little Contessa."

"Has she money?"

"Hang it all, do you think I'm the kind of man to want a woman for her
money?"

"I've known you about six days."

"Don't hedge. Can't six days tell you as much as six years--such six
days as we've had?"

"Yes. It's true. I would stake a good deal that you're not that kind
of man. I don't know why I said it. Something hateful made me. The
Contessa is very pretty. Could you--fall in love with her?"

"It would be an interesting experiment to try."

"If you think so, you must already have begun."

"No, not yet. I assure you I have an open mind. But it's an odd
coincidence meeting her like this. I was making the fact that she has
a house at Monte Carlo an excuse for going down there--sooner or
later--as an end to my journey. Now, she is to be in Chamounix, and
she intends to invite us both, it seems, to visit her in
Aix-les-Bains, where she has taken a villa."

The Boy looked at me suddenly, with a slight start. "She is going to
Chamounix?"

"So she says."

"And--she will invite you to visit her at her villa in Aix-les-Bains."

"You, too. You said yesterday you wanted to go to Aix, as you had
never been; and we p