Evening star., 1921-05-29

should be the eminent Partisan expert
who. CHANGING to be in London. had
been telephoncd for by the kind Mr..
Smith.
1T would not he wise for NJ. Poi
| rom" said Aristidc. chuckling inward
ly with puckiSh glee, Ito stay here
for the night-or for two or three
dayS--or 81 week-lika myself. He
must go back to his hotel when the
business is concluded"
"Mais pardon cried NJ. Poiron. who
had been formally invited and had
arrived late solely because he had
| missed his train at Manchester and
come on by the next one. II cannot
I go out into the wet. and I have no
hotel to go to"
! Aristide appealed TO his host But
! he is unreasona BILE. cher ami. He must
, play his role. NJ. Poiron has been tele-
/ phoned for He cant possibly stay
| mere Surely $500 is worth one little
night OF discomfort? And there are a
, legion of hotels in London"
| Five hundred pounds" exclaimed
, NJ. l'olron. ."Qu'est-ce que vous chan
: t"Z la | want more than $500"
! Then you're jolly Well not going to
get it," cried Mr.. Smith. in a rage.
And as for you-he turned on Aris-
tide-"il wiring your Internal neck.
Calm yourself. calm yourself. :.
smiled Aristide. who was enjoyinp
himself. hugely.
! AT this moment the door opened and
Miss 'hristabel appeared. On seeing
| with little oh" OF SURPRISE
II beg your pardon
! Mr.. Smiths angry face wreathed it.
| self in smiles.
| This. my darling. is NJ Poiron. the
eminent Paris expert. who has been
! good enough to come and give us his
/ rt
! NJ Foiron bowed. Aristide advanced
Mademoisellc, your appearance is
lik" a mirage in a desert"
! She smiled indulgently and turned
! to her father. I've been wondering
what had become of you Harry has
> been here for the last half-hour'
| Bring him in, dear child bring him
/ in said Mr.. Smith. with all the
! heartiness of the fine old English gem
/ tleman. Our good friends are dying
to meet him"
/ THE girl flickered out Of the room
like n sunbeam the phrase is
Aristide's), and the three precious
| rascals put their heads together in a
hurried and earnest colloquy. Pres
with her came the Hon. Harry Raj
/
i close cropped fair curly hair and a
| fair mustache. and frank blue eyes
| that, even in parliament. had seen no
| harm in his fellow w-creatures. Aris-
! tides magical vision caught him
! wincing ever so little at MIR Smiths
ELUSIVE greeting and overdone intro
ductions. He shook Aristide warmly
! by the hand.
! "You have a beauty there. baron, a
perfect beauty" said he. with the
! insane ingenuOusness of youth. II
! wonder how you can manage to part
! with it."
! MA fol" said Aristide. with his
back against the end of the dining
; table and gazing at the masterpiece.
| 81 have so many at the Chateau
d" Mireilles, When one begins to
collect, you knOw-and when ones
! grandfather and father have had
| also the divine mania-
"You We're saying. NJ. le Baron"
! said NJ. Poiron of Paris. that your
respected grandfather bought this di-
rect from Corot himself"
| a commission" said Aristide. "My
! grandfather was a patron of Corot."
do you like it. dear?" asked the
| Hon. Harry.
ly. lit is beautiful l feel like Harry
about it," She turned to Aristide.
How can you part with it? Were
you really in earnest when you said
You would like me to come and see
your collection"
For me-" said Aristide. cit would
be visit of enchantment."
| "You must take me. then She
whispered to Harry. The baron has
been telling us about his lovely old
| chateau"
! "Win you come. monsieur"' asked
I Aristide.
since Pm going to rob you Of your
picture" said the young man, with
smiling courtesy. "the least I can do
is to pay you a visit of apology.
Lovely"' said he, going up to the Corot
| Aristide took Miss Christabel, now
more bewitching than ever with the
| glow of young love in her eyes and
| a flush on her cheek, a step or two
aside and whispered:
But he is charming. your fiance!
He almost deserves his good for
| tune"
| "Why almost?" she laughed shyly.
1T is not a man. but a demi-god.
that would deserve you. mademoi-
| selle."
NJ. Poiron's harsh voice broke out.
! You see it is painted IN the De-