The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-05

He thought: "She has courage.
Maybe there is some truth in her
story? Maybe that vile Niklas did
find her abroad?"
But, sooner or later, he veered
round to quizzing her on subjects
that a French marquise, however
poor, would surely be acquainted
with, If she were the real article.
Toni learned how to parry these.
II have passed most Of my life
in the convent, monsieur"
Perhaps you thought you had a
vocation? Forgive me, but for any
one as charming, as lovely. that
would surely be a mistake"
The ironical note again. He had
not really meant to flatter her,
though the words sounded like
that.
Il was at school, monsieur. alb
sorbed in my studies"
Until recently?"
Eyes. The times you think you
saw me in the fashionable hotels
Of Paris, I was with my aunt. She
is dead now. She lived in Paris.
She wished that I stay with her
during my holidays from the con-
vent"
Then, surely" he baited, "you
stayed at school considerably
longer than most pupils"
GUEssEs HER AGE
A flush rose under her delicate
makeup.
Il am only %. Or is % old in
your American"
mo. Nor is 25."
He had guessed her age. But
Niklas had insisted on looping at
least three years from it. She re-
turned his look with the chal-
lenge: "Is it considered polite to
discuss a lady's age in your
South?"
He laughed. Apologized.
you see, marquise, everything
about you interests me. You lead
such fascinating life"
Again those innuendoeS! How
much had he really found out?-
she wondered.
your old chateau on the Loire
is it sold?"
Acknowledgement. Have I not
told you that my family lost every
thing? So how could l. just out
of the convent and trained for no
profession but that of singing,
keep up a place that required re-
pairs, servants, constant expense?"
II see."
"You see nothing, monsieur. be-
yond your own fortunate exist
ence." She was angry. Il am
surprised that anyone so-shall 1
say, lucky?-would waste his valu-
able time in talking, questioning
some one who is now nothing but
a night-club entertainer"
He bowed. Il deserve the re,
buke. I was unWarrantedly i'm
pertinent. But the fact remains
that you interest me enormously"
ITO what end?"
REGRETS HER WORDS
The moment she had said that,
she regretted the words. Might
he not take variety Of meaning
from them? The most obvious,
that she would like to know his
intentions toward her?
AS if to counterfeit this impress.
sion, she gave a nonchalant shrug.
Had she been able to read his
mind at this moment, she would
have been considerably surprised.
Astounded, in fact.
CHAPTER XVIII
ITO what end?" he was think.
ing ironically. Yes, the probable.
ties were that she would be in.
Guided in the haul. No girl as in
telligent as she could be at this
club nightly without knowing its
true character.
Or was she the unsuspecting
tool of Niklas? No, that was i'm.
possible.
But the next day he sent her a
magnificent spray Of white or.
chids, as though to make amends
His card. with a line Of apology in
French and his good wishes, lay
in the big square be awaiting her
arrival at the club.
After a moments indeciSion, she
had worn the orchids. They
curled in WaXed beauty under her
ear.
But before the evening was over
she removed them. It was as