"For Heaven's sake stop, Miss Pellissier," he interrupted. "What a hideous repertoire! If you are in earnest about wanting to earn money, why on earth don't you accept an engagement here?" "An engagement?" she queried. "On the stage? Yes. You would not have the slightest difficulty." She laughed softly to herself. "Do you know," she confessed, "I never thought of that?" He looked at her as though doubting even now whether she could possibly be in earnest. "I cannot conceive," he said, "how any other occupation could ever have occurred to you. You do not need me to remind you of your success at Paris. The papers are continually wondering what has become of 'Alcide.' Your name alone would fill any music hall in London." Again that curious smile which puzzled him so much parted her lips for a moment. "Dear me," she said, "I fancy you exaggerate my fame. I can't imagine Londoners--particularly interested in me." He shrugged his shoulders. Even now he was not at all sure that she was not playing with him. There were so many things about her which he could not understand. She began to draw on her gloves thoughtfully. "I am very much obliged for the tea," she said. "This is a charming place, and I have enjoyed the rest." "It was a delightful piece of good fortune that I should have met you," he answered. "I hope that whatever your plans may be, you will give me the opportunity of seeing something of you now and then." "I am afraid," she said, preceding him down the narrow stairs, "that I am going to be too busy to have much time for gadding about. However, I daresay that we shall come across one another before long." "That is provokingly indefinite," he answered, a little ruefully. "Won't you give me your address?" She shook her head. "It is such a very respectable boarding-house," she said. "I feel quite sure that Mrs. White would not approve of callers." "I have a clue, at any rate," he remarked, smiling. "I must try the Directory." "I wish you good luck," she answered. "There are a good many Whites in London." "May I put you in a hansom?" he asked, lifting his stick. "For Heaven's sake, no," she answered quickly. "Do you want to ruin me? I shall walk back." "I may come a little way, then?" he begged. "If you think it worth while," she answered doubtfully. Apparently he thought it very much worth while. Restraining with an effort his intense curiosity, he talked of general subjects only, trying his best to entertain her. He succeeded so well that they were almost in Montague Street before Anna stopped short. "Heavens!" she exclaimed. "I have brought you very nearly to my door. Go back at once, please." He held out his hand obediently. "I'll go," he said, "but I warn you that I shall find you out." For a moment she was grave. "Well," she said. "I may be leaving where I am in a few days, so very likely you will be no better off." He looked at her intently.