Dodo selected a chair, dropped into it, and awaited developments in silence. Six weeks before, he would have demanded in a passion the meaning of this subterfuge. But whatever might be said of La Belle Thaïs, one learned diplomacy in her company. "You are surprised, monsieur!" "I am infinitely surprised, madame," he agreed, with charming candor. "Shall we be frank with each other?" asked Gabrielle, pleasantly. "I think it is the only way," said Dodo. "Eh bien, I am infinitely surprised, madame; first, to see my sister's name in connection with yours at all, and, second, to find that you have been lying to me." "She came to ask me to rescue you from the toils of Thaïs de Trémonceau." Despite his elaborate self-control, Dodo flushed crimson. "I think we had best drop the discussion here," he said, rising. "There can be no possible profit in continuing it. If my sister was here at all"-- "Her card is there on the table," put in Gabrielle, pointing with her fan. "Pardon. I should not have permitted myself the insinuation. I accept your statement, and simply say that it was an unwarrantable intrusion on her part. For you, madame, I have only admiration. Your compliance"-- "It was not that," said Gabrielle, shortly. "I can conceive of nothing less important to me than your sister's wishes. But I dislike Mademoiselle de Trémonceau." "That," said Dodo, with exaggerated courtesy, "can only be a matter of opinion. _I_ admire Mademoiselle de Trémonceau enormously." "The force of admiration is undoubtedly strong," snapped Gabrielle, "to reconcile you to riding in another man's carriage, drinking another man's wine, dawdling with another man's"-- "Assez!" said Dodo. Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders. "Quite right," she said. "You are old enough to see for yourself. I presume you will not return to her." "On the contrary, I shall be with her in fifteen minutes." In the distance an electric bell whirred. "Sooner than that, I think," smiled Gabrielle, and then La Belle Thaïs was standing at the salon door. She was gowned in scarlet, with a poppy flaring in her hair, and, if she had but lent to her dance at the Folies but half the fury of that entrance, the manager would, no doubt, have tripled her already ample salary. And, at the instant of her appearance, as if by signal,--which indeed it was,--Louis flung wide the opposite door, with a stately "Monsieur et madame sont servis," and there, gleaming with spotless napery, silver shaded candlesticks, and shimmering cut glass, was the daintiest of tables, set for two!