"The air of this place suits you," said Lake, wondering at this bubbling gaiety; "you were pale and sad when we last met, Mademoiselle." "I may be the same when we meet again," she replied, refilling Lady Jim's glass. "What would you? Moods are agreeable." "Hum! I don't choose April as the most enjoyable month of the year." Katinka laughed meaningly, and glanced slyly at Lady Richardson. "I see; you prefer an autumn month--highly coloured and mature." This was too symbolic for Lake, but some intuition of its meaning caused him to flush to the roots of his fair hair, and verbally deny comprehension. "I do not understand." "No gallant man would," she retorted, and, further enlightened, the captain's pink became a violent crimson, to the concern of its cause. "How red you are, Reggy!" cried Lady Richardson. "I hope it isn't scarlet fever." "I guess you suffer from that," murmured Mamie, posing her lorgnette. "Plaît-il?" inquired the bewildered vicomte; but received no reply. Miss Mulrady's knowledge of French was too limited to permit of pathological discussions. "Russian tea," explained Lake, cooling to his ordinary sun-burn. "Why not one word--indigestion?" "Indigestion," repeated the soldier, with dry obedience. "You should really try Billy's new medicine; it has made him very fit. By the way, where is my darling?" Lake dodged the quizzical glance of Miss Mulrady, and explained that Sir Billy had been last seen wrinkling his young brows over the intricacies of trente et quarante. "Couldn't haul him off; but I daresay hunger will fetch him to the tea-table." "Such devotion argues good luck," said Leah, wondering if Billy would arrive with full pockets. "Perhaps, Lady James. Most boys are lucky at play." "And therefore unlucky in love?" inquired Katinka, smiling. "Children should know nothing of such things," said Aksakoff, stiffly. "I guess not," cried Mamie; "but Sir Billy is a freak." "Really, Miss Mulrady," frowned the indignant little mother, "my son is not so eligible for Barnum's Show as you seem to imagine. He hasn't got two heads, or an elastic skin, or any of those things which seem to be so popular in the United States." "Wouldn't make him more interestin' if he had. He's a moral freak." "Et moi aussi?" asked the vicomte, whose scant knowledge of Americanese prevented entire understanding. "Oh, you haven't got morals of any sort." "M. de Marville is the more interesting on that account," said Leah, rousing herself from a two minutes' silence; "a really good young man should be sealed, as a bore, in a glass case." "Then why is Mr. Askew at large?" The sailor laughed. "I fear my past can best answer that question." "By your tongue? Well?" "Better leave that well alone," laughed Katinka, gaily. "Besides, only women have pasts." "And presents, when the men are generous," said Lady Jim. "I guess men are always generous, when there's anythin' to be got."