'Alas, Madame, what can I say--how can I prove to him that I am what
I assert to be? My companion is dumb and cannot speak for me, and,
unluckily, he can neither read nor write. I have no papers to prove
myself, so my consul may think me--what you call--a scamp. No; I
will wait till I receive news from home, and get to my own position
again; besides,' with a shrug, 'after all, it is experience.'

'Experience,' said Madame, quietly, 'is a good schoolmaster, but the
fees are somewhat high.'

'Ah!' said Vandeloup, with a pleased look, 'you know Heine, I
perceive, Madame. I did not know he was read out here.'

'We are not absolute barbarians, M. Vandeloup,' said Madame, with a
smile, as she arose and held out her hand to the young man; 'and now
good night, for I am feeling tired, and I will see you to-morrow. Mr
McIntosh will show you where you are to sleep.'

Vandeloup took the hand she held out to him and pressed it to his
lips with a sudden gesture. 'Madame,' he said, passionately, 'you
are an angel, for to-day you have saved the lives of two men.'

Madame snatched her hand away quickly, and a flush of annoyance
spread over her face as she saw how Selina and Archie stared.
Vandeloup, however, did not wait for her answer, but went out,
followed by Pierre. Archie put on his hat and walked out after them,
while Madame Midas stood looking at Selina with a thoughtful
expression of countenance.

'I don't know if I've done a right thing, Selina,' she said, at