rewarded by her scrutiny of the sham Marseillais who devoured, like an
old campaigner, never sure of the next meal, or of Rebecca who
superintended the table in her stead with a serious unconcern.

"Around the world," replied Daniels simply, "straight on to the East."

"Goodness! it is folly to take a young lady with you. Is it a scientific
errand? No, you said holy. Religious?"

"Scientific of an exalted type."

"Is science somewhat entertaining for young ladies?"

"Some think it so."

"She might not. Leave her with me. We are comrades of art, you know,"
smiling up cordially at Rebecca, as if they had been friends of
childhood and had never parted any more than Venus' coupled loves.

"Where?"

"In our house," Cesarine replied, as though she were fully assured that
the smiling man on the opposite side of the board would not obtain the
property. "I do not think we shall quit it."

"If she likes," answered Daniels, easily.

"Rebecca!" he gently called, "Madame invites you to stay with her during
my journey. M. Clemenceau is my dearest friend, and from the time of his
wife consenting, do not constrain yourself into going if you would
rather remain."

"I thank you, madame," replied the Jewess, "but I am going with my
father, because we have never quitted one another, and I do not wish to
leave him alone."

"Dear child!" exclaimed Daniels embracing her before he let her return
to the head of the table. "She will not listen to any suggestion of
marriage. I know of a bright young gentleman who adores her--an
Israelite like us, in a promising position. He will one day be a
professor at the Natural History Museum. But she would not hear of him."

"It is not very amusing to live among birds, beasts and reptiles," said
Cesarine.

"Ha, ha! but then those are stuffed," exclaimed her opposite neighbor,
showing that he was listening.

"Very likely, she cherishes some little fancy in her heart," said Madame
Clemenceau, thinking of both her husband and Antonino.

"Possibly," said the Jew, complacently, for he knew that his daughter
was very fair.

"I believe I know the object," continued Madame Clemenceau.

"I am rather astonished that she should have told you, and not me."

"Oh, she has not told me anything, I guessed."

Daniels seemed relieved.

"And if you should like to hear the name," she began rapidly, but he
stopped her with a dignified smile. "What, you do not want to know what
I have found before you,