“I suppose so. That will do as well as any other—eh?” and he laughed.
“But last night you were not open with me, my dear Henri,” I replied; “therefore why should I be open with you?”
“Well—for your own sake.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this,” said Regnier, with a glance at his silent friend, who still retained his mask, and to whom he had not introduced me. “You’re putting your head into a noose by going about with her. You should avoid her.”
“Why? She’s most charming.”
“I admit that. But for your own sake you should exercise the greatest care. I follow the same profession as you and your people do—and I merely warn you,” he said very seriously.
The man standing by him exclaimed in French—
“Phew! What an atmosphere!” and removed his velvet mask.