A struggle was taking place in Ernie's heart. If Ruth left the Third Floor for the Second he would still see her sometimes. If she left the Hotel altogether he might lose her. "Ruth," he said at last. "I sometimes wonder why you stay on there at all." She glanced at him mischievously. "Shall I tell you?" she asked, her voice deeper than ever. "Yes." "It's the bathin. I just do adore the swimmin. Madame arranges it nice for the maids. And the season's coming on. We start next week if this weather holds. When the season's over I shall cut my stick--if so be Madame wasn't to want me for her own maid again." She chuckled at her own cunning. They came to the servants' gate. Ernie stopped. "Good-bye, Ruth," he said. "I'll say good-night." She looked up at him surprised. "Aren't you comin then?" she asked. "Yes," he said. "But I'm just a-goin to finish my fag first." She gave him a delicious look. Innocent as she was, she understood his consideration and thanked him for it mutely. She gave him her hand. He took it, shook it, and held it awhile, as though weighing it. It was firm and very capable. Swiftly he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. She made no protest, looking at him with kind eyes that knew no thought of coquetry. Then she vanished with her flowers. He gave her five minutes, and then followed her. Ruth had been detained in the basement, and was vanishing up the back-stairs as he entered, her roses in her hand. Don John, the Austrian, with his dingy face and greasy moustache, winked at Ernie as he passed. "Peach," he whispered. "Don't you wish you ad the pickin of her?" BOOK V CAPTAIN ROYAL CHAPTER XXXIV HIS ARRIVAL Ruth was as good as her word. Next day she went to see Madame, and asked to be moved from the Third Floor. Madame, the majestic, standing before the fire, dressed like a fashion-plate, put down her cigarette and looked at the young woman standing before her, slightly abashed, and uncertain how her request would be received. She was genuinely fond of the girl, and had sent her to the Third Floor at some personal sacrifice because she wished her to have chances she would not get elsewhere. Now she showed herself kind, if by no means understanding. She thought Ruth foolish and hinted as much. With foreign girls she could talk so much more plainly than with these wooden Englishwomen who understood so little. It was because Ruth was English, yet looked foreign, and showed a certain swift comprehension rare in her race, that Madame had taken to her at first. However, she assented to the girl's request as always with a good grace, if reluctantly. "Very well, Ruth," she said. "You are one of ze quiet ones, I see. Zey are too gay on ze Third Floor. I zought zey might be. It was only an egsperiment. One of ze maids on ze Second Floor is going next week. I vill move you zen. But you vill not get ze tips, you know. Bishops don't pay."