"I expect she will return as the wife of an American millionaire."
"Not at all," said Lady Sanby, coolly. "She is going to marry Lord Anvers, with the intention of reforming him. He has followed her to the States for that purpose."
"Poor Miss Pearl!" said Ralph, in a sympathetic tone.
Lady Sanby laughed. "Poor Anvers, I think," she said seriously. "But what about the Pink Shop?"
"It has been shut up, and the assistants have dispersed to the four winds, resuming, I believe, their real names. Zobeide has gone with her mother to Devonshire to live, Parizade has married her artist, and Peri Banou is Audrey's maid, as you know."
"Fancy having a dumb maid, and yet it has its advantages. Peri Banou--I do hope your wife will give her a less heathen name--will keep Audrey's secrets thoroughly."
"Audrey has no secrets," said Ralph, somewhat stiffly, "and Peri Banou is devoted to her."
"She has every reason to be. Few women would take a maid from that Pink Shop. It was too notorious."
"Oh! my dear grannie, it was conducted in a most respectable way, both by Madame Coralie and by Lady Branwin when she masqueraded as her sister."
"Humph! I certainly heard nothing against it," said Lady Sanby. "But how did Lady Branwin manage to conduct a business about which she knew nothing?"