"But you must have been born, and grown up, and done a great many things besides, that the rest of us don't do," the journalist laughed, growing more familiar. Jules' dislike for him was rapidly developing into hatred. Durand's familiarity, however, seemed to please the acrobat's mother. "Blanche is too modest," she said. "She's had a great many things happen to her." "Have you always been in the circus, Mademoiselle?" "Yes, ever since she was a child," her mother answered. "Her father was an acrobat." "So it's in the family. And were you in the circus too, Madame?" Madame Perrault shook her head, and Jules thought he saw her blush under the powder. "No, I have never been in public life. My husband's family lived in Boulogne, where I lived too. They were all acrobats. After my marriage I used to travel with the circus, and when Blanche was born, Monsieur Perrault wanted her to perform, too. When she was only five years old, they used to appear together." "Then you have travelled a great deal, Mademoiselle?" Durand turned his fascinating glance on the girl. She looked at her mother, and as she was about to reply, Madame Perrault resumed: "Ah, my daughter has been over nearly the whole world,--in England, in Germany, in Russia--" "Have you ever been in America?" Jules asked quickly. The acrobat shook her head. "But she has had such offers--such splendid--such magnificent offers to go there," the mother cried, clasping her hands. "But I'm afraid," the girl murmured, glancing at Jules with her big timid eyes. "Afraid of the voyage?" Jules asked. Her eyes were still fixed upon him, and he felt as if every nerve in his body were vibrating. "That's nothing. I have made it twice, and I wasn't sick a day." This was not true, for on each trip Jules had been sick for several days; but he made the remark with such ease, that for the moment he felt convinced himself of its truth. Mademoiselle Blanche looked at him admiringly, and he saw that he had made an impression on the mother, too, established himself in her regard as a travelled person, a man of importance. "Then Monsieur has been in America?" said Madame Perrault. "Oh, yes," Jules replied, carelessly. "All over it. It's a wonderful country." Mademoiselle Blanche sighed, and her mother glanced at her wistfully. "But it's too far," Madame resumed with a shake of the head. "We could not go so far from the children." "Then you have other children?" said the journalist. "Are they in the circus, too?" For the first time, the girl's face brightened. "Oh, no!" she replied, with a suggestion of horror in her tone. "They are very young," the mother explained. "Jeanne is only fourteen and Louise will be eleven next month. They are with my sister in Boulogne."