"You are in an impossible humour, my dear child," she declared. "Nevertheless, I declare for the music-hall, and for the escort of your friend, Mr. Wrayson, if he really is in earnest." "I can assure you," he said, "that you would be doing me a great kindness in allowing me to offer my services." The Baroness beamed upon him amiably, and rose to her feet. "You have come," she avowed, "in time to save me from despair. I am not used to go about so much unescorted, and I am not so independent as Louise. See," she added, pushing a gold purse towards him, "you shall pay our bill while we put on our cloaks. And will you ask afterwards for my carriage, and we will meet in the portico?" "With pleasure!" Wrayson answered, rising to his feet as they left the table. "I will telephone for a box to the Alhambra. There is a wonderful new ballet which every one is going to see." He called the waiter and paid the bill from a remarkably well-filled purse. As he replaced the change, it was impossible for him to avoid seeing a letter addressed and stamped ready for posting, which occupied one side of the gold bag. The name upon the envelope struck him as being vaguely familiar; what had he heard lately of Madame de Melbain? It was associated somehow in his mind with a recent event. It lingered in his memory for days afterwards. Louise and the Baroness left the room in silence. In the cloak-room the latter watched her friend curiously as she arranged her wrap. "So that is Mr. Wrayson," she remarked. "Yes!" Louise answered deliberately. "I wish that you had let him go!" The Baroness laughed softly. "My dear child," she protested, "why? He seems to me quite a personable young man, and he may be useful! Who can tell?" Louise shrugged her shoulders. She stood waiting while the Baroness made somewhat extensive use of her powder-puff. "You forget," she said quietly, "that I am already in Mr. Wrayson's debt pretty heavily." The Baroness looked quickly around. She considered her young friend a little indiscreet. "I find you amusing, _ma chère_," she remarked. "Since when have you developed scruples?" Louise turned towards the door. "You do not understand," she said. "Come!" CHAPTER IX A BOX AT THE ALHAMBRA The Baroness lowered her lorgnettes and turned towards Wrayson. "There is a man," she remarked, "in the stalls, who finds us apparently more interesting than the performance. I do not see very well even with my glasses, but I fancy, no! I am quite sure, that his face is familiar to me." Wrayson leaned forward from his seat in the back of the box and looked downward. There was no mistaking the person indicated by the Baroness, nor was it possible to doubt his obvious interest in their little party. Wrayson frowned slightly as he returned his greeting. "Ah, then, you know him," the Baroness declared. "It is a friend, without doubt."