No one seemed to have any idea of according a strict silence to the young girl's music, and whilst Gabrielle warbled in a sweet, but rather thin voice, some majestic air of Handel's, and Oswald leaning against the cover of the instrument looked down at her with ardent intentness, Georges, his hands upon his knees, his body inclined towards the Baroness Melkweyser who, still busied with her refreshments, was disposing of sandwich after sandwich, said: "You are wearing yourself out in the service of mankind. Have you allowed yourself one half-hour's repose to-day?--No, not one--as any one may see who looks at you. _A propos_, who was the Japanese woman dressed in yellow at whose side I saw you to-day sitting in a fainting condition in a landau--in front of Gouache's was it?--on the Boulevard de la Madeleine?" "Adeline Capriani." "_Ah tiens!_ That was why I seemed to have seen her before." "A very queer figure was she not?" "She is not ugly," said Georges. "It is a pity that she dresses so ridiculously." "Her dress costs her a fortune every year--the first artists in Paris design her gowns," Madame Zoe declared. "Indeed----? Now I understand why she always looks as if she had been stolen from a bric-a-brac shop," said Georges. "Explain to me, however, why this wealthy young lady is still unmarried. Perhaps the Conte thinks another son-in-law too expensive an article ... Did you know that Larothiere lost 300,000 francs again yesterday at baccarat at the Jockey Club?" "That is of no consequence," Zoe said loftily. "Gaston loves his wife--it is all that Capriani requires of his sons-in-law." "_Sapperment!_" Georges exclaimed, "that's the right kind of a father-in-law; what if you should negotiate a marriage, Baroness, between me and Mademoiselle Capriani?" "Do not indulge in such sorry jests," Truyn interposed disapprovingly. "I am in solemn earnest; the financial ground beneath my feet is very shaky at present, and having one's debts paid by such a good fellow as Ossi palls upon one in time. I am undecided whether to turn Hospitaller or to marry an heiress." "Ah, if Oswald heard you!" Zinka said with her quiet smile. "Ossi at this moment, if I am not greatly mistaken, is listening to the songs of angels in Heaven, and takes precious little heed of us ordinary mortals," replied Georges, glancing with a certain dreaminess in his eyes towards the youthful pair who had left the piano and were standing in the deep recess of an open balconied window. "Happy youth," murmured Georges. Yes, happy youth! They were standing there, he very pale, she blushing slightly, mute, confused, the sparkling eyes of each seeking, avoiding the other's. He has led her to the recess to show her the moon, to lay his heart at her feet, but he has forgotten the moon, and he has not yet dared to pour out his heart to her. The fragrant breath of the spring night was wafted towards them, fanning their youthful faces caressingly.