menagerie. I did not know what to do or what to say, or what to do with
my hands. I was pervaded by the unpleasant idea that all those furtive
eyes were upon me; gauging me because I was the brother of a
personality. I was concerned about the fit of my coat and my boots, and
all the while I was in a furious temper; my errand was important.

She stood looking at me, a sinuous, brilliant thing, with a light in the
eyes half challenging, half openly victorious.

"You have come," she said, "and ..."

I became singularly afraid of her; and wanted to stop her mouth. She
might be going to say anything. She overpowered me so that I actually
dwindled--into the gawkiness of extreme youth. I became a goggle-eyed,
splay-footed boy again and made a boy's desperate effort after a
recovery at one stroke of an ideal standard of dignity.

"I must have a word with you," I said, remembering. She made a little
gesture with her hands, signifying "I am here." "But in private," I
added.

"Oh, everything's in private here," she said. I was silent.

"I must," I added after a time.

"I can't retire with you," she said; "'it would look odd,' you'd say,
wouldn't you?" I shrugged my shoulders in intense irritation. I didn't
want to be burlesqued. A flood of fresh people came into the room. I
heard a throaty "ahem" behind me. The Duc de Mersch was introducing
himself to notice. It was as I had thought--the man was an habitue, with