"I am, for the time being." "Well, I am glad to hear it. I was shy of telling you when we reached the hotel, but you understand, of course, that I pay your expenses during this trip. The arrangement with Simmonds was that my father ante'd for petrol and allowed twelve shillings a day for the chauffeur's meals and lodgings. Is that satisfactory?" "Quite satisfactory, Miss Vanrenen," said Medenham, fully alive to the girl's effective ruse for the re-establishment of matters on a proper footing. "So you don't need to worry about Mrs. Devar. In any event, since you refused my offer to hire you for the tour, you will not see a great deal of her," she went on, a trifle hurriedly. "There only remains one other point," he said, trying to help her. "Would you mind giving me Mr. Vanrenen's address in Paris?" "He is staying at the Ritz--but why do you want to know that?" she demanded with a sudden lifting of eyebrows, for the hope was strong in her that he might be induced to change his plans so far as the next nine days were concerned. "A man in my present position ought always to ascertain the whereabouts of millionaires interested in motoring," he answered promptly. "And now, pardon me for advising you not to walk towards the pier alone." "Gracious me! Why not?" "There is a certain class of boisterous holiday-maker who might annoy you--not by downright ill-behavior, but by exercising a crude humor which is deemed peculiarly suitable to the seaside, though it would be none the less distressing to you." "In the States that sort of man gets shot," she said, and her cheeks glowed with a rush of color. "Here, on the contrary, he often takes the young lady's arm and walks off with her," persisted Medenham. "I'm going to that pier," she announced. "Guess you'd better escort me, Mr. Fitzroy." "Fate closes every door in my face," he said sadly. "I cannot go with you--in that direction." "Well, of all the odd people!--why not that way, if any other?" "Because Count Edouard Marigny, the gentleman whose name I could not help overhearing to-day, has just gone there--with another man." "Have you a grudge against him, too?" "I never set eyes on him before six o'clock this evening, but I imagine you would not care to have him see you walking with your chauffeur." Cynthia looked up and down the broad sea front, with its thousands of lamps and droves of promenaders. "At last I am beginning to size up this dear little island," she said. "I may go with you to a racetrack, I may sit by your side for days in an automobile, I may even eat your luncheon and drink your aunt's St. Galmier, but I may not ask you to accompany me a hundred yards from my hotel to a pier. Very well, I'll quit. But before I go, do tell me one thing. Did you really mean to bring your aunt to Epsom to-day?" "Yes." "A mother's sister sort of aunt--a nice old lady with white hair?" "One would almost fancy you had met her, Miss Vanrenen."