"Then will you do what I ask?"
"Yes; I think I will," said he. "After all, I shall flirt with my wife a little longer."
He rose up from his chair, and took her hand in his, and raised it, lover-like, to his lips.
"You're a very good old boy, Villari," she said. "We've never yet come near the edge of a quarrel, and we've been married, oh! ever so long. How wise we are, aren't we? Let me go, please. I want to write some letters. You told Mrs. Rivière you'd go to the Casino with her. It's time you were off. Be awfully charming to her, will you?"
"I'll let her show me to all her acquaintances, and be introduced to them all, if that will do," said the Prince.
"That's a dear," remarked Mimi. "That'll do beautifully. Trot along!"
[CHAPTER II.]
Gertrude's pleasure at receiving the telegram announcing Reggie's immediate arrival was not untouched by surprise. The vague thoughts, which for very loyalty she would not allow to take shape in her mind, in connection with Lady Hayes, formed themselves into a dark cloud on the horizon, distant but potentially formidable. But when she came downstairs on the morning of his arrival, and saw him standing in the hall, with the early morning sunlight falling on his tall, well-made form and towering, sunny head, there was no room in her mind for more than one feeling, and she was content. He had not seen her coming downstairs, and on the bottom step she paused, held out her hands, and said,—