e you enjoy yourself more? I shall
have to go back to my guests now. We are expecting a royal personage,
and those two dears who keep so close to my side do not speak a word of
English."

"Please go back, dear," John begged promptly. "It was nice of you to
come at all. And here's Sophy at last, thank goodness! Now I am all
right."

She laid her fingers upon his arm.

"You must take me back to my place," she said. "Then you can go and talk
nonsense to Sophy. I won't even ask you what she said when you told her
the news. I suppose you did tell her?"

"Of course!"

She glanced at him swiftly. His reply had sounded a little lame; but
they were back in the crowd now, and she dismissed him with a little
nod. He made his way quickly to the spot where he had seen Sophy. To his
disappointment, she had disappeared. Graillot, however, came up and
seized him by the arm.

"Still playing the moth, my young friend?" he exclaimed. "Aren't the
wings sufficiently burned yet?"

"I am afraid it's become a permanent role," John replied, as the two men
shook hands. "Where have you been all these weeks, and why haven't you
been to see me?"

"Paris, my dear young friend--Paris and life! Now I am back again--I am
not sure that I know why. I came over with these French people, to see
them start their theater. Forgive me, I have not paid my respects to our
hostess. We shall meet again presently."

He strolled off, and a few minutes later John found Sophy.

"How late you are!" he grumbled.

"I couldn't help it," she answered. "This is the only evening dress I
possess at present, and I had to mend it before it was decent to come
out in. Why are you wandering about alone? Hasn't Louise been kind to
you?"

"She has been charming," John declared promptly, "but she is surrounded
with all sorts of people I don't know. I can't help her. For one thing,
my French is absurd. Then they are all talking about things which I
don't understand in the least."

Sophy remained silent for a moment. Then she took John's arm and led him
to the buffet.

"Give me an ice and a cigarette, will you, please? You are a dear,
impractical person, but you are as much out of this world as a human
being well could be!"

John waited upon her without any further remark. The Prince of Seyre,
passing through, bowed to them. John looked after his retreating figure.
An irresistible impulse seized him.

"Sophy," he asked, sitting down by her side, "tell me, why hav