sightless eyes, when the paper was slowly lowered and over its top
the blue orbs of the stranger looked into hers.

Her pretty color became the hue of a bright pink rose.
"Mademoiselle," a very deep voice said in English, "is not this
world full of bores and tiresome duties; have you the courage to
defy them all for a few minutes--and talk to me instead?"

"Monsieur!" Miss Rawson burst out, and half rose from her seat.
Then she sat down again--the unknown had not stirred a muscle.

"Good," he murmured. "One has to be courageous to do what is
unconventional, even if it is not wrong. I am not desirous of
hurting or insulting you--I felt we might have something to say to
each other--is it so--tell me, am I right?"

"I do not know," whispered Stella lamely. She was so taken aback
at the preposterous fact that a stranger should have addressed her
at all, even in a manner of indifference and respect, that she
knew not what to do.

"I observed you last night," he went on. "I am accustomed to judge
of character rapidly--it is a habit I have acquired during my
travels in foreign lands--when I cannot use the standard of my
own. You are weary of a number of things, and you do not know
anything at all about life, and you are hedged round with those
who will see that you never learn its meaning. Tell me--what do
you think of Rome--it contains things and aspects which afford
food for reflection, is it not so?"