Rowton, arrived at his destination, secured the last sleeping compartment on the train, and went quickly back to the Grand Hotel. Nancy was waiting for him. “I have not been dull,” she said, her eyes dancing with excitement and pleasure. “M. D’Escourt called: I like him extremely; he has only just left. He is quite put out at our going to Nice.” “You told him that?” said Rowton. “Yes; why not? Dearest, how thick your brows look when you frown.” “I was not aware that I had frowned, sweet Nance.” “But are you vexed with me for telling him where we are going?” “Not in the least; all the world may know our movements. Now let us pack. We will leave some of our boxes here, but we must take plenty of your finery with us. I intend you to be the most beautiful woman at the Casino when we visit Monte Carlo.” Nancy began to pull her different beautiful dresses out of their boxes. Rowton stood and watched her. “M. D’Escourt seems to have been a great friend of yours, Adrian,” she said; “he has the highest opinion of you.” She glanced up at him as she spoke. “He would be sure to praise me to you,” said Rowton in a would-be careless tone. “We will go for a drive after déjeûner; I find that I must get several small things on my own account. Are you not hungry, little woman?” “No, I feel too excited to be hungry. You don’t know what this life is to me after my starved existence; but, Adrian, I am really sorry you missed your friend.” “Well, I am not,” said Rowton. “On a honeymoon one only wants one’s wife, particularly when she is such a wife as mine; but you seem fascinated with the fellow, Nancy.” “Only because he praised you so much,” she said, with a sweet smile. They went down to déjeûner. As they were finishing the meal, Nancy again reverted to D’Escourt. “He was really disappointed,” she said. “He was quite certain we were going to stay in Paris for another week at least.” “I have ordered the carriage to be round by now,” said Rowton without replying, and glancing at the clock as he spoke. “Put on your prettiest cloak and your most becoming hat and come out with me.” They spent the afternoon shopping and afterwards drove in the Bois. By eight o’clock that evening they had left the Grand Hotel and were on their way to the Gare de Lyon. They reached it in good time to catch the Mediterranean express. At the booking office Nancy was much astonished to hear her husband ask for tickets for San Remo. “You are making a mistake,” she exclaimed. “We are going to Nice.” “I have changed my mind,” he answered. “San Remo will suit us better.” “What a pity,” cried Nancy. “M. D’Escourt said he might visit Nice in a few days.” “The very reason why we go to San Remo, sweetheart. Now take your place. Here we are. You will admire the olive woods and the flowers before many more hours are over, _cara mia_.” CHAPTER IX. THE ROSE-COLOURED BEDROOM AND THE NEW MAID.