"Rochester had a dinner for me on Wednesday night. All the jolliest people in Paris--some of those dear French who have been so nice to us all along, and some of the War Council and the Ryvens, and so on--and, do you know, Nicholas--I _heard_ Rochester telling Madame de Clerté the same story about his _bon mot_ when a shell broke at Avicourt--as I had already heard him tell Admiral Short, and Daisy Ryven!--that decided me--. There was an element of self-glorification in that modest story--and a man who would tell it _three times_, is not for me! In ten years I should grow into being the listener victim--I could not face it! So I said good-bye to him in the corridor, before up to my room--and I telephoned to Jim, who was in his room on the Cambon side, and he came round in the morning!" "Was Rochester upset?" "Rather! but a man of his age--he is forty-two, who can tell a self-story three times is going to get cured soon, so I did not worry." "And what did Jim say?" "He was enchanted, he said he knew it would end like that--give a man of forty-two rope enough and he'll be certain to hang himself, he said, and, Oh! Nicholas--Jim is a darling, he is getting quite masterful--I adore him!" "Senses winning, Nina! Women only like physical masters." She grew radiant. Never has she seemed so desirable. "I don't care a fig Nicholas! If it is senses, well, then, I know it is the best thing in the World, and a woman of my age can't have everything. I adore Jim! We are going to be married the first moment he can get leave again--and I shall 'wangle' him into being a 'red tab'--he has fought enough." "And if meanwhile he should get maimed like me--what then, Nina?" She actually paled. "Don't be so horrid Nicholas--Jim--Oh! I can't bear it!" and being a strict Protestant, she crossed herself--to avert bad luck! "We won't think of anything but joy and happiness, Nina, but it is quite plain to me you had better have a fortnight at the sea!" She had forgotten the allusion, and turned puzzled brown eyes upon me. "You know--to balance yourself when you feel you are falling in love"--I reminded her. "Oh! It is all stuff and nonsense! I know now I adore Jim--good-bye Nicholas"--and she hugged me--as a sister--a mother--and a family friend--and was off down the stairs again. Burton had brought me in a mild gin and seltzer, and it was on the tray, near, so I drank it, and said to myself, "Here is to the Senses--jolly good things"--and then I telephoned to Suzette to come and dine. * * * * * There is a mole on the left cheek of Suzette, high up near her eye, there are three black hairs in it--I had never seen them until this morning--_c'est fini_--_je ne puis plus_! * * * * * Of course we have all got moles with three black hairs in them--and the awful moment is when suddenly they are seen--That is the tragedy of life--disillusion.