"I don't know," responded Father Algarcife. "It is a good deal in the way you look at it, I suppose." "Not at all. I am not prejudiced--not in the least--never knew anybody less so. But he isn't your equal in controversy, by a long shot." A sudden boyish laugh broke from Father Algarcife--a laugh wrung from him by the pressure of an overwhelming sense of humor. "I don't think it is a question of equality," he replied, "but of points of view." CHAPTER V The next afternoon Ardly burst into Nevins's studio without knocking, and paused in the centre of the floor to give dignity to his announcement. "I have seen her," he said. Nevins, who was stretched upon the divan, with his feet in the air and a cigarette in his mouth, rolled his eyes indolently in Ardly's direction. "My dear fellow," he returned, "am I to presume that the pronoun 'her' refers to an individual or to a sex?" "Don't be an ass," retorted Ardly. "I tell you I've seen Mariana." Nevins turned upon his side and removed the cigarette from his lips. "Where?" he responded, shortly. "She was coming out of Thorley's. She wore an acre of violets. She has a footman in livery." "How do you know it was she?" "Well, I'll be damned! Don't I know Mariana?" Nevins sat up and rested his head in his hands. "How did she look?" he asked. "Stunning. She has an air about her--" "Always had." "Oh, a new kind of air; the way a woman moves when she is all silk on the wrong side." Nevins nodded. "Speak to you?" "I didn't give her a chance," returned Ardly, gloomily. "What's the use?" The knocker rose and fell, and Mr. Paul entered, as unaltered as if he had stepped aside while the eight years slid by. Nevins greeted him with a slight surprise, for they had drifted different ways. "Glad to see you," he said, hospitably; "but this is an unusual honor." "It is unusual," admitted Mr. Paul, seating himself stiffly on the edge of the divan. "I am afraid to flatter myself with the hope that a whisper of my spreading fame has brought you," continued Nevins, nodding affably. Mr. Paul looked up absently. "I have heard no such rumor," he replied, and regarded the floor as if impressed with facts of import. "Perhaps it is your social charm," suggested Ardly; "or it may be that in passing along Fifty-fifth Street he felt my presence near." Nevins frowned at him and lighted a fresh cigarette. "I hope you are well, Mr. Paul," he remarked. Mr. Paul looked up placidly. "I may say," he returned, "that I am never well." "Sorry to hear it." There was a period of silence, which Mr. Paul broke at last in dry tones. "I have occasion to know," he announced, "that the young woman whom we knew by the name of Mariana, to which I believe she had no legal title, has returned to the city." Nevins jumped. "You don't say so!" he exclaimed. "My information," returned Mr. Paul, "was obtained from the elevator boy who took her to the apartment of Miss Ramsey."