She leaned forward, elbow on knee, looking into the fire. "You know, Baron, I'm very sorry for Aurora." As he made no comment she went on: "She has always been a very sweet, amiable, honorable child. I'm very fond of her. She was very much alone with her books and her family. She has always lived in an atmosphere of her own--an atmosphere that she made for herself, without companions of her own age. Her mother brought her up without the slightest knowledge of the guile, the deceit, or wickedness of the world in which some day she was to live. They used even to scan the newspapers before she was permitted to read them, and clip out objectionable paragraphs. Even I have done that since she has been here visiting me. Her father was always too busy making money to bother. At the age of twenty she is still a dreamer, old in nothing but years, living in an idyl of her own, the sleeping princess in the fairy-tale whom you, the gallant prince, have awakened with a kiss." DeLaunay's shoulders moved slightly as he sighed. "That kiss, Monsieur! You have awakened her," she went on, "to what?" She paused abruptly and turned toward him for a reply. "Your question is hardly flattering to my vanity," he said, smiling. "There are women----" "She is a child." "All women are children. I shall find means to make her happy." Patricia resumed her study of the fire. "I hope so. With money your opportunities for happiness would be greater. Without money----" she paused and shook her head slowly. The Baron turned abruptly, but Patricia's gaze was fixed upon the fire. When he spoke his tones were suppressed--his manner constrained. "Madame--what do you mean?" She faced him slowly, her expression gently sympathetic. "Have you not heard?" "Heard what, Madame?" "Of Monsieur North's misfortune--you must have seen it in the newspapers----" "The newspapers! No--what is it?" "Monsieur North has lost his money." DeLaunay rose quickly, one hand before him as though to ward off a blow. "What you tell me is impossible," he said thickly. "No," gravely. "It is true." He stared at her unbelieving, but her eyes met his calmly, eagerly, and in their depths he saw only pity. "Would I not have heard this dreadful thing, Madame? Aurora would have told me." "She might have told you if she had known." "She did not know?" "They want to save her the pain. They always have. That is one reason why she is stopping here with me. Don't you understand?" DeLaunay showed other signs of inquietude and was now pacing the rug nervously. "It is incredible!" he was saying, "incredible! I cannot--no----" And he stopped before her. "No, I will not believe it!" Patricia clasped her hands over her knees and was looking very gravely into the fire. She had the air of a person who is mourning the loss of a very dear friend. "How do you know this?" he asked again, anxiously.