At that moment François darted into the room, a harassed frown on his face.
"Ah, pardon, madame! Pardon, m'sieu'! Je cherche la tabatière de m'sieu' Philippe!"
"Laquelle?" asked Cleone. Sir Maurice was amused by her serious air. "The one with the pearls?"
"Mais oui, madame. It is this fool of a Jacques who has lost it, sans doute! Ah, la voilà!" He seized the errant box and skipped out again. Cleone breathed a sigh of relief.
"How terrible if it had been really lost!" she said.
Sir Maurice laughed.
"Would it have been so great a catastrophe?"
"But of course! It matches his dress, you understand."
"I see." Sir Maurice smothered another laugh. "My dear, do you know that it is three years since last I was in this city of cities?"
"Is it? Don't you think it is a wonderful place? Philip took me for a walk yesterday, and I was enchanted! And this house—I know I shall never bear to leave it! Philip says that the Hotel Cleone will be the most fashionable one in Paris! I was so surprised when he brought me here! I had no idea that there was a house waiting for me. He and François got all ready the week before our marriage! I've never been so happy in my life! And to-night I am to see Philip in what he calls his milieu. He tells me he was never at home in London."