very fast! Oh, no, m'sieu', no more!"

Her cheeks were glowing, and her eyes had become softer and more
brilliant under the influence of the potent liqueur.

"Well, well, I'll let you off this time; but next time--next time,
remember."

He raised the glass once more, and let the cordial drain down lazily.

He had said, "next time"--she noticed that. He seemed very fond of this
strong liqueur. She placed the bottle on the table, her own glass beside
it.

"For a minute, a little minute," she said suddenly, and went quickly into
the other room.

He coolly picked up the bottle of liqueur, poured his glass full once
more, and began drinking it off in little sips. Presently he stood up,
and throwing back his shoulder, with a little ostentation of health, he
went over to the chintz-covered chair, and sat down in it. His mood was
contented and brisk. He held up the glass of liqueur against the
sunlight.

"Better than any Benedictine I ever tasted," he said. "A dozen bottles
of that would cure this beastly cold of mine. By Jove! it would. It's
as good as the Gardivani I got that blessed day when we chaps of the
Ninetieth breakfasted with the King of Savoy." He laughed to himself at
the reminiscence. "What a day that was, what a stunning day that was!"