somewhat mystified and not at all pleased, he goes off to hunt up Isabel Harding.
He finds the latter alone. For excellent reasons Count Gonzaga is holding himself aloof. Captain Alvarez is not in sight.
"Don't you find the atmosphere of the room close?" he inquires, as he reaches Isabel's side.
"Not at all. I am entirely cool," she responds.
"But it is ever so much pleasanter in the garden," persists Ashley, as he twists his mustache and meets her curious glance with a smile that is amiability itself. Without another word she rises and accepts his extended arm.
"How delightful it is out here under the stars," rattles on Jack, as they emerge into the garden. "These glorious nights almost repay one for the sweltering days. Ah, here is an ideal summer house. You will find it as cozy as a society darling's boudoir. Won't you take a seat?"
Mrs. Harding laughs, a trifle ironically, as she sinks upon the wooden bench that runs around the interior.
"Now, Mr. Ashley," she remarks, "will you be good enough to inform me what you have brought me out here to tell me?"
"With pleasure, madam," responds Ashley, dropping back into his old deliberate self.
"If you will let your thoughts stray back about six weeks, Mrs. Harding, you will perhaps remember that on a certain evening I had the pleasure of relating to you a fairy tale, to assist you in dissipating the monotony of an attendance upon the French ball. The fairy tale lacked the closing and most interesting chapter, you will recall, and I requested that you supply it. 'Not to-night,' you protested, but you kindly promised me an interview upon the following forenoon.
"That promise, I regret to say, you broke with as little ceremony as one would"
"I presume," interrupts Mrs. Harding, "that it will be unnecessary for me to assign my reason for failing to keep my promise."
"Quite. It would not mend matters. Now, suppose,
