"Your theosophy prevents you from allowing that there are any faults in your friends. Yes, Susan, it does."
"Have you read the manuals carefully?"
"Yes, but I can't think of them now. Adelaide's being here will spoil everything."
"No it won't! She'll only stay a day or two, not that, perhaps."
"But why did she come at all?"
"She didn't tell me. She's coming to see you to-day with Mr. Elliot."
"Max Elliot, too! Of course it is Claude whom Adelaide wants to see. I quite understand that. But he's not here."
"What has become of him?"
"Susan, you know of course he wished to welcome you. He is devoted to you. But—well, the truth is"—she slightly lowered her voice, although there was no one in the room—"he had to go away for the opera. He has gone to Constantine with Armand Gillier, the author of the libretto, to study the native music there, and military life, I believe. There is a big garrison at Constantine, you know. Monsieur Gillier is a most valuable friend for Claude, and can help him tremendously in many ways; with the opera, I mean."
She stopped. Then she added: