"Will Madame De Lisle accord the favor of a brief interview to a lady who calls on important business?"
"A lady—at this time of the night!" said La Reine Blanche, lifting her arched brows very slightly.
"Yes, madam, a real lady—at least she spoke and moved like one," replied Elsie, respectfully.
"Tell her I can see no one to-night. I am too weary; she must call another time," said the actress, in an agitated voice.
Elsie turned away with the message, but before she reached the door she was confronted by the lady, who had heard the refusal and entered in spite of it.
She advanced into the room, and stood before the actress, who had risen from her seat and leaned against a chair, her golden hair falling about her like a misty veil.
"Madame De Lisle," said the intruder, in a slightly tremulous voice, "I entreat you to pardon this untimely intrusion. Will you send your maid away, that I may plead my justifiable excuse?"
La Reine Blanche motioned to the maid to withdraw into an inner room at the pleasure of her visitor. Then she looked wistfully at the lady, who had thrown off her concealing hood and cloak, and stood revealed in all her majestic beauty, clothed splendidly in black velvet and sparkling diamonds.
"You are surprised to see me here?" said Sydney, interrogatively.