and they're exquisite. We share the same dressing-room, you know."

Merkle regarded her with a sudden new interest.

"You and she dress together?"

"Yes."

"Then--I dare say you're close friends?"

"We're close enough--in that room; but scarcely friends. What did
you get?"

He unrolled the package at his plate.

"A gold safety razor--evidently a warning not to play with edged
tools. I wonder if Miss Lynn bought one for Jarvis?"

"Now, why did you say that," Lorelei asked, quickly, "and why did
you ask in that peculiar tone if she and I were friends?"

The man leaned closer, saying in a voice that did not carry above
the clamor:

"I suppose you know she's making a fool of him? I suppose you
realize what it means when a woman of her stamp gets a man with
money in her power? You must know all there is to know from the
outside; it occurred to me that you might also know something
about the inside of the affair. Do you?"