The lady bustled about at once to supply my needs. Her husband was still away, and lunch there was not in any proper sense. But she fed me with odd messes and endless cups of coffee. Hunger disappeared leaving curiosity starkly apparent. "How's Eva?" I asked. Madame Mauer pursed her lips. "She went away an hour ago." "Home?" The lady shrugged her shoulders. "It looked like it. I did not ask her. She would go--with many thanks, but with great resolution.--What has happened to you?" she went on smoothly. I deliberated. Should I tell madame anything or should I not? I decided not to. "Ching Po went back to the hotel," I said. "I don't believe he meant to annoy you." She let the subject drop loyally. And, indeed, with Ching Po and French Eva both out of the way, she had become quite normal again. Of course, if I would not let her question me, I could not in fairness question her. So we talked on idly, neither one, I dare say, quite sure of the other, and both ostensibly content to wait. Or she may have had reasons as strong as mine for wishing to forget the affair of the morning. I grew soothed and oblivious. The thing receded. I was just thinking of going home when Follet appeared at the gate. Then I realized how futile had been our common reticence. "Is Eva here?" he shouted before he reached us. "She went home long ago." Madame Mauer answered quietly, but I saw by her quick shiver that she had not been at peace, all this time. "She's not there. The place is all shut up." "Doesn't she usually attend these festivities up the hill?" I asked. His look went through me like a dagger. "Not today, you fool!" "Well, why worry about her?" It was I who put it calmly. Six hours before, I had not been calm; but now I looked back at that fever with contempt. "She's been to Stires's," he went on; and I could see the words hurt him. "Well, then, ask him." "He was asleep. She left her beloved gramophone there. He found it when he waked." "Her gramophone?" I ejaculated. "Where is Stires?" "Looking for her--and hoping he won't find her, curse him!" Follet took hold of me and drew me down the steps. "Come along," he said. Then he turned to Madame Mauer. "Sorry, madame. This is urgent. We'll tell you all about it later." Felicite Mauer did not approve of Follet, but he could do no wrong when she was actually confronted with him. She took refuge in a shrug and went within. When we were outside the gate, I stood still and faced Follet. "What did Ching Po tell you and Stires?" "Don't you know?" Sheer surprise looked out at me from his eyes. "Of course, I think I know. Do you really want to tear the place up, looking for her?"