“Madrid, if you please. I didn’t know I was coming until last Thursday. The Ellicotts are here. I came over with them. You know I wondered where you might be. Then I remembered that you said you were going to Egypt. Where is your wife?” “In her bath, I fancy, at this moment. This warm weather makes Jennie take to water. I was thinking of a plunge myself.” They strolled about for a time. Letty was in light blue silk, with a blue and white parasol held daintily over her shoulder, and looked very pretty. “Oh, dear!” she suddenly ejaculated, “I wonder sometimes what I am to do with myself. I can’t loaf always this way. I think I’ll go back to the States to live.” “Why don’t you?” “What good would it do me? I don’t want to get married. I haven’t any one to marry now—that I want.” She glanced at Lester significantly, then looked away. “Oh, you’ll find some one eventually,” he said, somewhat awkwardly. “You can’t escape for long—not with your looks and money.” “Oh, Lester, hush!” “All right! Have it otherwise, if you want. I’m telling you.” “Do you still dance?” she inquired lightly, thinking of a ball which was to be given at the hotel that evening. He had danced so well a few years before. “Do I look it?” “Now, Lester, you don’t mean to say that you have gone and abandoned that last charming art. I still love to dance. Doesn’t Mrs. Kane?” “No, she doesn’t care to. At least she hasn’t taken it up. Come to think of it, I suppose that is my fault. I haven’t thought of dancing in some time.” It occurred to him that he hadn’t been going to functions of any kind much for some time. The opposition his entanglement had generated had put a stop to that. “Come and dance with me to-night. Your wife won’t object. It’s a splendid floor. I saw it this morning.” “I’ll have to think about that,” replied Lester. “I’m not much in practice. Dancing will probably go hard with me at my time of life.” “Oh, hush, Lester,” replied Mrs. Gerald. “You make me feel old. Don’t talk so sedately. Mercy alive, you’d think you were an old man!” “I am in experience, my dear.” “Pshaw, that simply makes us more attractive,” replied his old flame. CHAPTER XLVI