'Well, you see something has happened. Barbizon has happened, Morton
has happened.'

'I wonder if anything will come of it. He's a nice fellow. I like
him.'

'You're not the first. All the women are crazy about him. He was the
lover of Merac, the actress of the _Francais_. They say she could only
play Phedre when he was in the stage-box. He always produced that
effect upon her. Then he was the lover of the Marquise de la--de la
Per----I can't remember the name.'

'Is he in love with any one now?'

'No; we thought he was going to marry Rose.'

'That little thing!'

'Well, he seemed devoted to her. He seemed inclined to settle down.'

'Did he ever flirt with you?'

'No; he's not my style.'

'I know what that means,' thought Mildred.

The conversation paused, and then Elsie said:

'It really is a shame to upset him with Rose, unless you mean to marry
him. Even the impressionists admit that he has talent. He belongs to