_." She patted her breast. "It
makes me afraid for tomorrow. Will you perhaps take a glass of beer?
Ciccio, ask for another glass--" Ciccio, at the end of the table,
did not rise, but looked round at Alvina as if he presumed there
would be no need for him to move. The odd, supercilious curl of the
lip persisted. Madame glared at him. But he turned the handsome side
of his cheek towards her, with the faintest flicker of a sneer.

"No, thank you. I never take beer," said Alvina hurriedly.

"No? Never? Oh!" Madame folded her hands, but her black eyes still
darted venom at Ciccio. The rest of the young men fingered their
glasses and put their cigarettes to their lips and blew the smoke
down their noses, uncomfortably.

Madame closed her eyes and leaned back a moment. Then her face
looked transparent and pallid, there were dark rings under her eyes,
the beautifully-brushed hair shone dark like black glass above her
ears. She was obviously unwell. The young men looked at her, and
muttered to one another.

"I'm afraid your cold is rather bad," said Alvina. "Will you let me
take your temperature?"

Madame started and looked frightened.

"Oh, I don't think you should trouble to do that," she said.

Max, the tall, highly-coloured Swiss, turned to her, saying:

"Yes, you must have your temperature taken, and then we s'll know,
shan't we. I had a hundred and five when we were in Redruth."

Alvina had taken the thermometer from her pocket. Ciccio meanwhile
muttered something in French--evidently something rude--meant for
Max.

"What shall I do if I can't work tomorrow!" moaned Madame, seeing
Alvina hold up the thermometer towards the light. "Max, what shall
we do?"

"You will stay in bed, and we must do the White Prisoner scene,"
said Max, rather staccato and official.

Ciccio curled his lip and put his head aside. Alvina went across to
Madame with the thermometer. Madame lifted her plump hand and fended
off Alvina, while she made her last declaration:

"Never--never have I missed my work, for a single day, for ten
years. Never. If I am going to lie abandoned, I had better die at
once."

"Lie abandoned!" said Max. "You know you won't do no such thing.
What are you talking about?"

"Take the thermometer," said Geoffrey roughly, but with feeling.

"Tomorrow, see, you will be well. Quite certain!" said Louis. Madame
mournfully shook her head, opened her mouth, and sat back with
closed eyes and the stump of the the