"Has he--! For the past three hours, sir! He has driven my maid distracted." She started to count on her fingers. "He spent half an hour superintending my hair-dressing and another half an hour placing this rose and the pearls. Then half an hour went to my patches--this is when he nearly tore his wig!--he could not decide where to put them. The arrangement of my gown occupied quite an hour in all. And then he was much put out over my jewels." She held up her fingers. "I vow they are red and sore, sir! I have had rings pushed on them, and dragged off them, until I was nigh screaming with impatience! But now I am dressed--and I have been told on pain of Philip's direst wrath to _n'y toucher pas_!" She sat down on the couch beside Sir Maurice and slipped her hand in his. "Is he not absurd? And oh, I am prodigious nervous!" "Why, my dear? What should make you so?" "You see, it is my first appearance in Paris--it is to be my first ball--and I am so afraid I shall not understand what is said to me, or--or something mortifying!" "Not understand? Nonsense, Clo! Why, you have talked hardly any English since you have been married." "Yes, but I am not at all fluent. Philip says everyone will be most amiable, but--oh, dear!" At that moment François darted into the room, a harassed frown on his face. "Ah, _pardon, madame! Pardon, m'sieu'! Je cherche la tabatière de m'sieu' Philippe!_" "_Laquelle?_" asked Cleone. Sir Maurice was amused by her serious air. "The one with the pearls?" "_Mais oui, madame._ It is this fool of a Jacques who has lost it, _sans doute_! Ah, _la voilà_!" He seized the errant box and skipped out again. Cleone breathed a sigh of relief. "How terrible if it had been really lost!" she said. Sir Maurice laughed. "Would it have been so great a catastrophe?" "But of course! It matches his dress, you understand." "I see." Sir Maurice smothered another laugh. "My dear, do you know that it is three years since last I was in this city of cities?" "Is it? Don't you think it is a wonderful place? Philip took me for a walk yesterday, and I was enchanted! And this house--I know I shall never bear to leave it! Philip says that the Hotel Cleone will be the most fashionable one in Paris! I was so surprised when he brought me here! I had no idea that there was a house waiting for me. He and François got all ready the week before our marriage! I've never been so happy in my life! And to-night I am to see Philip in what he calls his milieu. He tells me he was never at home in London." "Philip in his milieu. Paris." Sir Maurice smiled down at her. "When I think of what Philip was not quite a year ago...." "It seems impossible, doesn't it? But oh, I am glad now that I sent him away. He is quite, quite perfect!" "H'm!" said Sir Maurice. Cleone laughed at him. "You pretend! I know how proud you are!" "Minx! I confess I am curious to see Philip in his Parisian Society. No one knows that he is here?"