Evening star., 1933-01-16
INSTALLMENT xXxvI.


which leaves the station Of
Monte Carlo at Just after
i o'clock in the afternoon, headed
for Italy. The coaches are all a
new type of Pullman with big easy
chairs, little tables with pink shaded
lamps, and buffet service. The VIM
dows are large, giving the traveller an
excellent uninterrupted view OF the
panoramic Mediterranean coast, and
the whole de luxe equipment Is designed
especially for the comfort and con-
venience Of voyagers from Cannes and
the succeeding resorts who wish to take
ship from Genoa. It Is an extra-fare
train and, consequently, never over
crowded, and on the afternoon Of the
Grand Prix de Monaco there was only
one passenger waiting to get on at the
Monte Carlo stop.
This was a dark young man, slim
and nattily dressed, who waited In an
inconspicuous corner until the train
wes actually in the station before
strolhng out across the platform. AS
he had no luggage there was no delay
about his boarding the train, which q
moment later, proceeded on It's leisurely
way. The young man looked about
the long compartment and, choosing
a comfortable seat, put away his light
gray hat, his new yellow gloves and
cane and settled his tie. Then he
caught sight of his only fellow traveller
and instinctively ran his hand over
his already Immediately smooth hair.
The lady who excited this instinc-
tive home was not young. Indeed, she
was past middle age, and her complex
ion was plainly ravaged under her
rather naive makeup. But though she
was inclined to stoutness her clothes
were expensive and her jewels were
superb. One large square-cut diamond
on her hand represented fortune IN
itself, and about her neck was q fine
chain from which were suspended q
plaque set with emeralds Of unusual
size The young man fumbled with
q pillow on the seat behind him.
"A thousand pardons, madame" he
said, but may 7 offer you q pillow?
The train joggles so, and your feet
eh. may I put this cushion under
them?" The lady looked doubtful.
you must have been dancing" he
said ingratiatingly. II can tell by the
pretty shoes of madame. Indeed, i am
quite sure I have seen you dancing at
the Palais de Ia Mediterranee in Nicep
mo, it must have been in Cannes"
she corrected him, half smiling. "I do
dance, quite q lot" He tucked the
pillow under her feet without further
protest.
American women dance 50 beauti-
fully" he murmured. Il was sure i
had seen YOU" He sank into dis
Greet silence.
do you know many Americans down
here?" she ventured at length. He
mentioned the names of famous banker
and his wife, but the lady shook her
head, smiling with more confidence.
mo, don't know them" she admitted
reluctantly. But know who they are,
of course. don't know many people
over here, and I'm so lonely sometimes
think I'll cut my trip short and go
back"
"But how can any one so-pardon me
but I must say, so charming II be
lonely?" he demanded In sincere
surprise.
why, I'm getting on. guess" she
said. Nobody wants an old woman
around"
MY dear Iadyl" he protested. That's
exactly where you are wrong. Ameri-
can men may like what you call
chickens, eh? But We in Europe, we
require some intellectual companion
ship. Young girls bore us, but older
women-well, we find them intriguing"
"Of course, girls are usually awful
fools,' she admitted appreciatively,
but do you think a man, young man,
could ever be really interested by an
older woman? I mean in perfectly
nice way" she added hastily.
THAT depends" he said. ':I myself.
well, you may easily think me quite
hair. 1t attracts me. If I may say
co xxyffhOf9t vrNic1arnd a YlH{r0
and taking offense, could not help
noticing yours as soon as came in. 1t
is so charming, like powdered masques
of the Louis XVI period. 1t Is partic-
ularly delicious when a woman Is, like
yourself, prematurely grayl"
well" she said with a hint Of coy
ness, you'd probably be surprised then,
II you knew my age!"
"All women" he murmured, "are
eternally surprise, and real women
have no age! Are you sailing from
Genoa, madame?"
"why, mol" she said In some surprise |
at the suddenness of the question. I'm
going on to Venice" He took another |
look at her jewels and sighed sentimen-
tally.
aThat's curiousl" said he. "I am going |
to Venice, too. Venice Is marvellous In |
the Spring"
'well, that's Just lovely" said the
lady. "And here we are at the frontier |
already My, how time does fly in |
congenial company, doesn't It? hope"
she added, that we won't have any
trouble with the customs II we do, |
you'll have to help me outs
But whether or not the young man |
would have expressed willingness to |
meet this reasonable request was never |