enough to hear the news."

Then ARMAND met Lady VIOLET.

"I dreamed years ago of going to the City of Manoa to find its queen.
I have found her this evening."

"And she is--?" queried Lady VIOLET.

"You!" hissed the Brazilian (he was a Brazilian), and departed.

"What folly!" murmured Lady VIOLET, in the moonlight.

And many agreed with her.

CHAPTER II.--_THE GARDEN OF DOROTHY BLAIR._

DOROTHY was on the Thames. There came to her ARMAND.

"Will you never publish our contemplated marriage?" she asked.

"How can I, child?" he replied. "How can I reveal the secret when your
mother is not well enough to hear the news?"

It was his solitary anecdote.

She sighed, and then came a steam-launch. It contained Lady VIOLET,
the other characters, lunch, and (played off) the "_Intermezzo_."

Then ARMAND preferred to flirt with Lady VIOLET to DOROTHY.

"What nonsense!" thought DOROTHY.

And her thoughts found an echo in the breasts of the audience.

CHAPTER III.--_SMOKE IN THE SMOKING-ROOM._

And the Right Hon. RICHARD MALVERN, having had supper, was jealous of
his wife. He told Lady VIOLET that he considered ARMAND _de trop_. But
he did it so amiably that it touched Lady VIOLET deeply.

"I will send ARMAND away," she replied. Then she told the Brazilian
that it was his duty to stay away until his engagement was announced.

"But how can it be announced?" he replied, repeating his solitary
anecdote. "I am engaged to a young lady, but I cannot reveal the
secret, because her mother is not well enough to hear the news."

Then Lady VIOLET bade him, haughtily, adieu! He departed, but
returned, accompanied by the "_Intermezzo_." Then--probably at the
suggestion of the music--she hugged him. Then he left her.

"This is very wearisome," murmured Lady VIOLET.

And the audience agreed with her.

CHAPTER IV.--_A WEIR ON THE THAMES._

It being moonlight, Lady VIOLET walked on a terrace, and admired
a dangerous weir. There was a shriek, and the Brazilian rushed in
accompanied by the "_Intermezzo_."

"Fly with me to any part of the Desert that pleases you most."

"I would be most delighted," replied Lady VIOLET; "I would sacrifice
myself to any extent, but I would not annoy my husband."

"Then let me kiss you with the aid of MASCAGNI," and he pressed his
lips to her brow, to the accompaniment of the "_Intermezzo_."

"I have been to Manoa, and kissed its Queen," said the Brazilian, as
he jumped into the weir, weari