While everything seemed to be going beautifully and all the company had gone on into another small anti-room where the "_goûter_" was, my dear old friend came to me. "It is not progressing Nicholas--_Hein_?" "There is some screw very loose, Duchesse. She absolutely hates me and wants to go and live out of the flat!" "_Tiens_!--She is jealous of some one. Nicholas, it is not possible that you have still--?" I did not grow angry. "No indeed, that is over long ago, but I do believe she thinks it is not. You see the person in question comes to see a relative who has married an _antiquaire_ on the floor above me, and Alathea has seen her on the stairs and imagines she comes to see me!" "And you cannot tell her?" "I am not supposed to know it would matter to her!" "_Bon_. Do you really love the child, Nicholas?" "_Chère Amie_, with my whole heart. I only want her in all the world." "And she is being impossible for you surely! I know her character--if she thinks you have a mistress--her pride is of _le diable_!" "It is indeed." The Duchesse laughed. "We must see what can be done, dear boy. Imagine though what I have discovered! That infamous father took that money that you gave, when the affair had already been settled by _le Colonel_ Harcourt with your money! A relation of mine attested at the investigation and had to know the facts. Nicholas, you _preux chevalier_! You paid twice, and never said a word! You are of a devotion! It was splendid of you, but my poor Hilda is heartbroken that you have been so pillaged." At that moment the crowd returned from the other room and the Duchesse rose and left me. Coralie now sat with me. "_Mes compliments_, Nicholas! She is lovely! But what a fox,--thou!" "Am I not? It is so delicious to find things out for oneself!" Coralie laughed; she has a philosophic spirit, as I have found always those much love-battered ones possess. She accepts my defection and again looks to the main chance to see how she can benefit by it. At last the whole thing was over, and Maurice and I had a cigarette together in the tea room. People would be crazy, "simply crazy, my dear chap," about Alathea, he told me. She was "_séduisante_," how right I had been! How fortunate I was! When was I going to England? He said farewells after this, and once more _my wife_ and I were alone in the brougham. Alathea wore her mask. Having been received now as my wife, and by the Duchesse whom she loves and respects, she knows she cannot go on suggesting she will not live in the flat with me. She cannot bring herself to speak about Suzette, because the inference would be that she objects. I wondered if the Duchesse had been able to say anything to her. She did not speak at all and went straight to her room when we arrived. It was five minutes past eight when she came in to the sitting-room. "I am sorry if I have kept you waiting," were her first words.