Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo

companion as soon as they a

r thoughts. Throw a few hundred thousand of your dollars away at the tab

s place opposite the door to await his sister's arrival. It was a quarter

grumbled. "I thought you were go

the little watc

much as anything. I have been paying a few calls. I went out to the Villa Rosa to see some peo

sked impatie

s arm and drew him into a le

he Villa Mimosa, where they live, but she would tell me absolutely nothing about them. The villa is the finest in Monte Carlo, and has always been taken before

gedly. "Hunterleys knows who they are and won

ated, raising her eyes. "My dear Dick, th

ensible chap enough but he won't even tell me why. I've had enough of it. I've a good mind to take the bull by the horns myself. Mr. Grex is here now, somewhere about. He was sitting with

ic coupé; but," she added, in a changed tone, looking across the tables, "there is just one t

moment later he was standing a few feet away from the girl who had taken so strange a hold upon his affections. He himself was conscious of a curious and unfamiliar nervousness. Physically he felt as though he had been running hard. He

s pla?t," he heard her sa

notice. Richard

to get it changed

him and her eyes rested upon his face. Richard was good-looking enough, but the chief characteristic of his face was a certain honesty, which seemed accentuated at that moment by hi

ery much," s

und and counted it very slowly into her hands. From the left one she had removed the glove and he saw, to his relief, th

," she said. "It was ver

h the slightest of foreign accents

leasure," h

in another direction. He went into the bar and ordered a whisky and soda. He was as excited as he had been in the old days when he had rowed stroke in a winning race for his college boat. He felt, somehow or other, that the first step had been a success. She had been inclined at

she exclaimed

e," he begged. "I

an,-" she beg

g ass. She was trying to get change and couldn't reach. I took the note from her, got

down upon the divan and

are sitting there, looking as though you could see right into Heav

ed contentedly. "I've spok

ned her gold bag a

ou. Of course, I don't know that it will come t

s it?"

of gilt-edged card

u. It takes at least an hour to get there, climbing all the way, and the place is as likely as not to be wrapped in clouds, but a great many of the important people are going,

Give me the ticket. I am awf

red, rising, "I shall consider that it

ail instead,"

ook he

ater on, I'll have one.

nch," he answered,-"hang around and se

ed her lips. He stood there looking at her, and in the midst of a scene where money seemed god of all things, he realised all manner of strange and pleasant sensations. The fact that he had twenty thousand francs in his pocket to play with, scarcely occurred to him. He was watching a little wisp of golden hair by her ear, watching her slightly wrinkled forehead as she leaned over the table, her little grimace as she lost and her stake was swept away. She seemed indifferent to all bystanders. It was obvious that she had very few acquaintances. Where he stood it was

f you would allow me to s

one of cold surprise, un

dress me?"

scouraging but it was

eak to you, if I may

said, "that I have the priv

ted, "but all the same I wan

r finish, but you must allow me to tell you in advance that I l

finished, then," Richard declared desp

Grex replied coldly

as something in Mr. Grex's tone which seemed to destroy all his confidenc

d to notice that you were watching me. I was looking at your da

to be of a higher order than your manners. You

n to college and mixed with the usual sort of people. My birth i

ghost of a smile, devoid of any trac

repeated, half closing his eyes for

eir. My sister is Lady Weybourne. I was lunching with her at Ciro's to-day when I saw you and your daughte

aging anybody, that I kno

desperately, feeling that any further form of ex

ed the ash fro

nywhere in the vi

foolish but it isn't really. I am twenty-seven years old and I ha

as impossible for him to continue, the

avouring all day to find some mutual friend to introduce me

" Mr. Grex r

egged. "I am not asking for anything more no

ing the colossal, the unimaginable impertinence of your suggestion. I request you to leave me now and I advise you most heartily

se slowly

l go. All the same, what you have

rence?" Mr. Grex repeate

me is, but I hope you'll get over it some day. I'd like to make friend

" Mr. Grex

daughter," Richard conclud

ushions of the divan with folded arms. Little lines had become visible around his eyes, there was a sli