Only　Britisher　I　ever　liked。　　Plays　cards　like　a　goat。〃
  〃He　played　a　mighty　good　game　on　the　steamer；〃　said　Cooley　warmly。
  〃I　don't　care　what　he　did　on　the　steamer；　he　played　like　a　goat　the
  only　time　~I~　ever　played　with　him。　　You　know　he　did。　　I　reckon　you
  was　~there！~〃
  〃Should　say　I　~was~　there！　　He　played　mighty　well〃
  〃Like　a　goat；〃　reiterated　the　fat　man　firmly。
  〃Nothing　of　the　sort。　　You　had　a　run　of　hands；　that　was　all。　　Nobody
  can　go　against　the　kind　of　luck　you　had　that　night；　and　you　took　it
  away　from　Sneyd　and　me　in　rolls。　　But　we'll　land　you　pretty　soon；
  won't　we；　ole　Sneydie？〃
  〃We　sh'll　have　a　shawt　at　him；　at　least；〃　said　the　Englishman。
  〃Perhaps　he　won't　want　us　to　try；〃　young　Cooley　pursued　derisively。
  〃Perhaps　he　thinks　I　play　like　a　goat；　too！〃
  Mr。　Pedlow　threw　back　his　head　and　roared。　　〃Give　me　somep'n　easy！
  You　don't　know　no　more　how　to　play　a　hand　of　cards　than　a　giraffe
  does。　　I'll　throw　in　all　of　my　Blue　Gulch　gold…stockand　it's　worth
  eight　hundred　thousand　dollars　if　it's　worth　a　centI'll　put　it　up
  against　that　tin　automobile　of　yours；　divide　chips　even　and　play　you
  freeze…out　for　it。　　You　play　cards？　　Go　learn　hop…scotch！〃
  〃You　wait！〃　exclaimed　the　other　indignantly。　　〃Next　time　we　play
  we'll　make　you　look　so　small　you'll　think　you're　back　in　Congress！〃
  At　this　Mr。　Pedlow　again　threw　back　his　head　and　roared；　his　vast
  body　so　shaken　with　mirth　that　the　glass　he　held　in　his　hand　dropped
  to　the　floor。
  〃There；〃　said　Cooley；　〃that's　the　second　Martini　you've　spilled。
  You're　two　behind　the　rest　of　us。〃
  〃What　of　it？〃　bellowed　the　fat　man。　　〃There's　plenty　comin'；　ain't
  there？　　Four　more；　Tommy；　and　bring　cigars。　　Don't　take　a　cent　from
  none　of　these　Indians。　　Gentlemen；　your　money　ain't　good　here。　　I
  own　this　bar；　and　this　is　my　night。〃
  Mellin　had　begun　to　feel　at　ease；　and　after　a　timeas　they　continued
  to　sithe　realized　that　his　repugnance　to　Mr。　Pedlow　was　wearing　off；
  he　felt　that　there　must　be　good　in　any　one　whom　Madame　de　Vaurigard
  liked。　She　had　spoken　of　Pedlow　often　on　their　drives；　he　was　an
  〃eccentric；〃　she　said；　an　〃original。〃　　Why　not　accept　her　verdict？
  Besides；　Pedlow　was　a　man　of　distinction　and　force；　he　had　been　in
  Congress；　he　was　a　millionaire；　and；　as　became　evident　in　the　course
  of　a　long　recital　of　the　principal　events　of　his　career；　most　of　the
  great　men　of　the　time　were　his　friends　and　proteges。
  〃'Well；　Mack；'　says　I　one　day　when　we　were　in　the　House　together〃
  （thus　Mr。　Pedlow；　alluding　to　the　late　President　McKinley）〃'Mack；'
  says　I；　'if　you'd　drop　that　double　standard　business'he　was
  waverin'　toward　silver　along　then'I　don't　know　but　I　might　git　the
  boys　to　nominate　you　fer　President。'　　'I'll　think　it　over；'　he　says
  'I'll　think　it　over。'　　You　remember　me　tellin'　you　about　that　at
  the　time；　don't　you；　Sneyd；　when　you　was　in　the　British　Legation　at
  Washin'ton？〃
  〃Pahfictly；〃　said　Mr。　Sneyd；　lighting　a　cigar　with　great　calmness。
  〃'Yes；'　I　says；　'Mack；'　I　says；　〃if　you'll　drop　it；　I'll　turn　in
  and　git　you　the　nomination。'〃
  〃Did　he　drop　it？〃　asked　Mellin　innocently。
  Mr。　Pedlow　leaned　forward　and　struck　the　young　man's　knee　a
  resounding　blow　with　the　palm　of　his　hand。
  〃He　was　~nominated~；　wasn't　he？〃
  〃Time　to　dress；〃　announced　Mr。　Sneyd；　looking　at　his　watch。
  〃One　more　round　first；〃　insisted　Cooley　with　prompt　vehemence。
  〃Let's　finish　with　our　first　toast　again。　　Can't　drink　that　too
  often。〃
  This　proposition　was　received　with　warmest　approval；　and　they　drank
  standing。　　〃Brightest　and　best！〃　shouted　Mr。　Pedlow。
  〃Queen！　　What　she　is！〃　exclaimed　Cooley。
  ~〃Ma　belle　Marquise！〃~　whispered　Mellin　tenderly；　as　the　rim　touched
  his　lips。
  A　small；　keen…faced　man；　whose　steady　gray　eyes　were　shielded　by
  tortoise…rimmed　spectacles；　had　come　into　the　room　and　now　stood
  quietly　at　the　bar；　sipping　a　glass　of　Vichy。　　He　was　sharply
  observant　of　the　party　as　it　broke　up；　Pedlow　and　Sneyd　preceding
  the　younger　men　to　the　corridor；　and；　as　the　latter　turned　to
  follow；　the　stranger　stepped　quickly　forward；　speaking　Cooley's
  name。
  〃What's　the　matter？〃
  〃Perhaps　you　don't　remember　me。　　My　name's　Cornish。　　I'm　a　newspaper
  man；　a　correspondent。〃　　（He　named　a　New　York　paper。）　　〃I'm　down　here
  to　get　a　Vatican　story。　　I　knew　your　father　for　a　number　of　years
  before　his　death；　and　I　think　I　may　claim　that　he　was　a　friend　of
  mine。〃
  〃That's　good；〃　said　the　youth　cordially。　　〃If　I　hadn't　a　fine　start
  already；　and　wasn't　in　a　hurry　to　dress；　we'd　have　another。〃
  〃You　were　pointed　out　to　me　in　Paris；〃　continued　Cornish。　　〃I　found
  where　you　were　staying　and　called　on　you　the　next　day；　but　you　had
  just　started　for　the　Riviera。〃　　He　hesitated；　glancing　at　Mellin。
  〃Can　you　give　me　half　a　dozen　words　with　you　in　private？〃
  〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me；　I'm　afraid。　　I've　only　got　about　ten
  minutes　to　dress。　　See　you　to…morrow。〃
  〃I　should　like　it　to　be　as　soon　as　possible；〃　the　journalist　said
  seriously。　　〃It　isn't　on　my　own　account；　and　I〃
  〃All　right。　　You　come　to　my　room　at　ten　t'morrow　morning？〃
  〃Well；　if　you　can't　possibly　make　it　to…night；〃　said　Cornish
  reluctantly。　　〃I　wish〃
  〃Can't　possibly。〃
  And　Cooley；　taking　Mellin　by　the　arm；　walked　rapidly　down　the
  corridor。　　〃Funny　ole　correspondent；〃　he　murmured。　　〃What　do　~I~
  know　about　the　Vatican？〃
  V。　　Lady　Mount　Rhyswicke
  The　four　friends　of　Madame　de　Vaurigard　were　borne　to　her　apartment
  from　the　Magnifique　in　Cooley's　big　car。　　They　sailed　triumphantly
  down　and　up　the　hills　in　a　cool　and　bracing　air；　under　a　moon　that
  shone　as　brightly　for　them　as　it　had　for　Caesar；　and　Mellin's　soul
  was　buoyant　within　him。　　He　thought　of　Cranston　and　laughed　aloud。
  What　would　Cranston　say　if　it　could　see　him　in　a　sixty…horse
  touring…car；　with　two　millionaires　and　an　English　diplomat；　brother
  of　an　earl；　and　all　on　the　way　to　dine　with　a　countess？　　If　Mary
  Kramer　could　see　him！。。。　Poor　Mary　Kramer！　　Poor　little　Mary　Kramer！
  A　man…servant　took　their　coats　in　Madame　de　Vaurigard's　hall；　where
  they　could　hear　through　the　curtains　the　sound　of　one　or　two　voices
  in　cheerful　conversation。
  Sneyd　held　up　his　hand。
  〃Listen；〃　he　said。　　〃Shawly；　that　isn't　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke's
  voice！　　She　couldn't　be　in　Reomalways　a　Rhyswicke　Caws'l　for
  Decembah。　　By　Jev；　it　is！〃
  〃Nothin'　of　the　kind；〃　said　Pedlow。　　〃I　know　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke
  as　well　as　I　know　you。　　I　started　her　father　in　business　when　he　was
  clerkin'　behind　a　counter　in　Liverpool。　　I　give　him　the　money　to
  begin　on。　　'Make　good；'　says　I；　'that's　all。　　Make　good！'　　And　he
  done　it；　too。　　Educated　his　daughter　fit　fer　a　princess；　married
  her　to　Mount…Rhyswicke；　and　when　he　died　left　her　ten　million
  dollars　if　he　left　her　a　cent！　　I　know　Madge　Mount…Rhyswicke　and
  that　ain't　her　voice。〃
  A　peal　of　silvery　laughter　rang　from　the　other　side　of　the　curtain。
  〃They've　heard　you；〃　said　Cooley。
  〃An'　who　could　help　it？〃　Madame　de　Vaurigard　herself　threw　back　the
  curtains。　　〃Who　could　help　hear　our　great；　dear；　ole　lion？　　How　he
  roar'！〃
  She　wore　a　white　velvet　〃princesse〃　gown　of　a　fashion　which　was
  a　shade　less　than　what　is　called　〃daring；〃　with　a　rope　of　pearls
  falling　from　her　neck　and　a　diamond　star　in　her　dark　hair。　　Standing
  with　one　arm　uplifted　to　the　curtains；　and　with　the　mellow　glow　of
  candles　and　firelight　behind　her；　she　was　so　lovely　that　both　Mellin
  and　Cooley　stood　breathlessly　still　until　she　changed　her　attitude。
  This　she　did　only　to　move　toward　them；　extending　a　hand　to　each；
  letting　Cooley　seize　the　right　and　Mellin　the　left。
  Each　of　them　was　pleased　with　what　he　got；　particularly　Mellin。
  〃The　left　is　nearer　the　heart；〃　he　thought。
  She　led　them　through　the　curtains；　not　withdrawing　her　hands　until
  they　entered　the　salon。　　She　might　have　led　them　out　of　her　fifth…
  story　window　in　that　fashion；　had　she　chosen。
  〃My　two　wicked　boys！〃　she　laughed　tenderly。　　This　also　pleased　both
  of　them；　though　each　would　have　preferred　to　be　her　only　wicked　boy
  a　preference　which；　perhaps；　had　something　to　do　with　the　later
  events　of　the　evening。
  〃Aha！　　I　know　you　both；　before　twenty　minute'　you　will　be　makin'
  love　to　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke。　　Behol'　those　two　already！　　An'　they
  are　only　ole　frien's。〃
  She　pointed　to　Pedlow　and　Sneyd。　　The　fat　man　was　shouting　at　a
  woman　in　pink　satin；　who　lounged；　half…reclining；　among　a　pile　of
  cushions　upon　a　divan　near　the　fire；　Sneyd　gallantly　bending　over
  her　to　kiss　her　hand。
  〃It　is　a　very　little　dinner；　you　see；〃　continued　the　hostess；　〃only
  seven；　but　we　shall　be　seven　time'　happier。〃
  The　seventh　person　proved　to　be　the　Italian；　Corni；　who　had
  surrendered　his　seat　in　Madame　de　Vaurigard's　victoria　to　Mellin
  on　the　Pincio。　　He　presently　made　his　appearance　followed　by　a
  waiter　bearing　a　tray　of　glasses　filled　with　a　pink　liquid；　while
  the　Countess　led　her　two　wicked　boys　across　the　room　to　present　them
  to　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke。　　Already　Mellin　was　forming　sentences　for
  his　next　letter　to　the　Cranston　Telegraph：　　〃Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke
  said　to　me　the　other　evening；　while　discussing　the　foreign　policy
  of　Great　Britain；　in　Comtesse　de　Vaurigard's　salon。。。〃　　〃An　English
  peeress　of　pron