"I want to write for Raffini's Chronicle," Elfrida said quickly. "You know the editor of Raffini, of course, Mr. Parke. You know everybody. Will you do me the very great favor to tell him that I will report society functions for him at one half the price he is accustomed to pay for such writing, and do it more entertainingly?"
Frank Parke smiled. "You are courageous indeed, Hiss Elfrida. That is done by a woman who is invited, every where in her proper person, and knows 'tout Paris' like her alphabet I believe she holds stock in Raffini; anyway, they would double her pay rather than lose her. You would have more chance of ousting their leader-writer."
"I should be sorry to oust anybody," Elfrida returned with dignity.
"How do you propose to help it, if you go in for doing better or cheaper what somebody else has been doing before?"
Miss Bell thought for a minute, and demonstrated her irresponsibility with a little shrug. "Then I'm very sorry," she said. "But, monsieur, you haven't told me what to do."
The illuminator of European politics for the Daily Dial wished heartily that it had been a matter of two or three hundred francs.
"I'm afraid I—well, I don't see how I can give you any very definite advice. The situation doesn't admit of it, Miss Bell. But—have you given up Lucien?"
"No. It is only that—that I must earn money to pay him."
"Oh! Home supplies stopped?"
"My people have lost all their money except barely enough to live on. I cant expect another sou."