"My father has turned me out of the house, Aunt Flora, and I come to you for shelter," said Audrey, rapidly. "I have nowhere to go."
Madame Coralie clutched her yashmak and stamped her foot. When she spoke her voice was almost inarticulate with rage. "Do you mean to say that Joseph has dared to turn you from your home at this hour?"
"Yes." And Audrey, assisted by Shawe, rapidly related all that had taken place, although they both suppressed, for obvious reasons, any account of the suspicions they entertained on the evidence of Parizade's keen sense of smell. "So you see," ended the girl, with a sob, "that unless you take me in I have no place to shelter my head."
"My dear!" Madame Coralie made as though to catch her niece in her arms, but checked herself abruptly. "Of course you shall stay here as long as you like. But Badoura told me you had come from the theatre."
"My excuse for this midnight visit," said Ralph, quickly; "and now, Madame, you must invent some reason for Audrey stopping here for the night."
"Oh, that is easy enough"--she stepped back and looked at the slender figure of the girl, scarcely visible in the dim light--"you are too thin, Miss Branwin, and you wish me to treat you."
"Will Badoura accept that excuse?" asked Audrey, timidly.
"Yes," said Madame, bluntly; "she will accept any excuse that I like to give her. If she doesn't she loses her situation. Don't trouble, Miss--"
"Why don't you call me Audrey, Aunt Flora?"
"Because I don't want the relationship known," said the woman, promptly; "it is just as well, therefore, that I should call you Miss Branwin. But we can't stay talking here all night. Go away, Mr. Shawe, and don't come here again until I give you permission."