Evening star., 1924-05-20
CHAPTER v.
The Kingdom of the Earth.

Brunei sent for Elise.
1t was within two days of the bal
masque; a note addressed to her at
the room in the Rue Jacques, asking
her to call on him at his office at
III o'clock on the following morning.
At first Elise thought it the preface
to dismissal, but realized that there
would be no ceremony attached to
her departure from the Internationale
would be accomplished by Lolette in
few pungent phrases.
She found Brunei in his room at
the theater, for in building the In
ternationale he had equipped it with
a splendid suite of offices, from which
he controlled his various other places
of amusement scattered about Paris
and France.
1t was large room, long and high.
with a great bookcase down one wall.
the others oak paneled and adorned
by signed photographs of theatrical
celebrities. Brunei was sitting at a
great plate-glass topped desk in the
assigned Elise to seat opposite him.
She was a little apprehensive and
nervous, although her fears were
somewhat negatived by Brunefs
smile.
You were at my dance the other
evening, ma 'selle."
Yes, monsieur"
And you enjoyed it?" There was
a suave benevolence about Brunei
which Elise had never perceived be-
note.
Very much. monsieur"
"Ah. 1 was watching you, and /
thought you did" Brunei seemed to
settle himself comfortably. as though
all the preliminaries were got over
and he and she were on terms of es-
tablished friendship. Now you are
wondering why I have brought you
here this morning. eh?
Elise admitted that she was. She
did not like this trcachy. amia ability.
The reason / asked you to CALL"
continued Brunei, "is because / can
make your fortune"
She stared at him, thinking for a
moment that he was mad, but realiZ-
ing Immediately that Brunei was not
the type to be afflicted with insanity.
II don't understand, monsieur" she
said at last.
dance at my house? Don't you real
ize that you are wasting your time in
dressing ROOM?
She hardly dared attempt to grasp
his meaning. so Incredible was it.
dancers-I. Brunei. And | know a
dancer when | see one. You think
this is all ridiculous?' For Elise's
bewildermsat be was plainly w5itte9 n,t in
made her. You look at her cars, her
jewels and her gowns. You see her
with the world at her feet, wealthy,
famous, her name on eyerybody's lips
and she seems far above you, in the
remember the time when she sat op-
posite me-opposite Brunel-at just
such a desk as this, and said she was
willing to do her best if only I would
help her"
Lolette. The premiere danseuse!
This man spoke of Lolette and drew
a parallel with herself! Elise felt
that her senses were reeling.
She strove to be calm, and smiled
were plucking at the vanity bag on
her knees If all this were true it
meant wealth. Her Indignation was
rearing structure of fanciful inten-
tion which reached to the skies.
might even be cured, for the best of
medical advice could be obtained for
her. There would at least be sun
shine and rest for the remainder of
the comforts money could purchase.
Old DR.. Lapierre would be paid in
full and over for the service he had
rendered. All this Elise thought
swiftly, tumultuously, while yet she
tried to grasp the tremendous impor-
tance of BruneTs proposition. She
heard Brunei speaking again.
You like the idea? 1t appeals to
you?"
"Monsieur-I don't know how to
thank YOU" Despite her efforts at
self-control, her agitation was plain
ly visible. ''It is a thing of which 1
never dreamed. You see-when
danced-it was only fun. I never
fhnnDht that there could No
thing in it,
Brunei nodded. "Tt is just the lit
tie thought-and the opportunity"
Somehow, she felt he was measuring