did you risk all that money?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Because I am a fool!" he answered, bitterly--"a fool, and what the
English rightly call 'a dog in the manger!' I ought to rejoice when I
see you with that excellent fellow, Mr. Chester--and as your friend," he
stopped short and then ended his sentence with the words, "I ought to be
happy to know that you will have so excellent a husband!"

Sylvia also got up.

"You are quite mistaken," she said, coldly. "I shall never marry Mr.
Chester."

"I regret to hear you say that," said Count Paul, seriously. "A woman
should not live alone, especially a woman who is young and beautiful,
and--and who has money."

Sylvia shook her head. She was angry--more hurt and angry than she had
ever felt before in her life. She told herself passionately that the
Comte de Virieu was refusing that which had not been offered to him.

"You are very kind," she answered, lightly. "But I have managed very
well up to now, and I think I shall go on managing very well. You need
not trouble yourself about the matter, Count Paul. Mr. Chester and I
thoroughly understand one another--" She waited, and gently she added,
"I wish I could understand you--"

"I wish I understood myself," he said sombrely. "But there is one thing