beautiful marble basin about ten feet long, that had been stolen
from the Emperor."

Over Montague's shoulder where he sat, there hung an orchid, a most
curious creation, an explosion of scarlet flame. "That is the
odonto-glossum," said Mrs. Winnie. "Have you heard of it?"

"Never," said the man.

"Dear me," said the other. "Such is fame!"

"Is it supposed to be famous?" he asked.

"Very," she replied. "There was a lot in the newspapers about it.
You see Winton--that's my husband, you know--paid twenty-five
thousand dollars to the man who created it; and that made a lot of
foolish talk--people come from all over to look at it. I wanted to
have it, because its shape is exactly like the coronet on my crest.
Do you notice that?"

"Yes," said Montague. "It's curious."

"I'm very proud of my crest," continued Mrs. Winnie. "Of course
there are vulgar rich people who have them made to order, and make
them ridiculous; but ours is a real one. It's my own--not my
husband's; the Duvals are an old French family, but they're not
noble. I was a Morris, you know, and our line runs back to the old
French ducal house of Montmorenci. And last summer, when we were
motoring, I hunted up one of their chateaux; and see! I brought over
this."