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"It is satisfactory, Enrique," said Madelaine with decision, handing hiet out "I alk the rest of the way; if you atch me, to be sure I a the coach up to the boardwalk "Do you need e well enough The street is well lit, and I doubt anyone will importune me with so much activity about" With that, she opened the door panel, set her lap rug aside, and stepped down fro the door behind her to close it She was about to turn when she felt her cloak snag on the door latch; as she struggled to free it, she stuainst the coach

"Allow me, Madame," said a voice from behind her; William Sherman reached out and freed her cloak, then held out his hand to assist her to the wide, wooden sidewalk "Good evening, and permit me to say that I am surprised to see you here"

"At the French Theatre? Where else should I be?" Madeleine recovered her poise at once "Thank you for your concern, Mr Sherman Why should you be surprised?"

He answered indirectly as he glanced at his pocket watch "The curtain will rise in five minutes You will have to join your company at once"

"Then I will have to hurry," said Madelaine, starting along the boardwalk in the direction of the French Theatre "But there is no one I aher own language spoken, not to indulge in the entertaino to the theatre unescorted?" He gazed at her in dismay "No, no; Madame, you must not"

"But why?" she asked reasonably "I have attended the theatre alone in London" As soon as she said it, she realized she had slipped; it was rare for her to make such an error

"Never tell me you went alone to the theatre as a child," he countered "Not even French parents are so indulgent"

"Not as a child, no," she allowed, irritated that her tongue should have got her into such a pass with Sheret herself around hi his head; the laentleman, I should never ask a lady this question, but I fear I must"

She returned his look "What question is that? I have told you the truth, Mr Sherman"

"Of that I have no doubt" He answered so directly that she was startled "I can perceive the truth of you as if it grew on stalks No, the question I ought not ask is: How old are you?" Before she could answer, he added, "Because I have received an accounting of your money in the Saint Louis office of Lucas and Turner, and with a portrait and a description to verify your identity It would seem that you have not altered in any particular in the last decade You appeared to be about twenty when you first went there, and you appear to be about twenty now"

Very carefully she said, "If I told you when I was born, you would not believe me"

He studied her eyes and was satisfied, "That, too, was the truth" He again looked at his pocket watch "We are going toat hi at the corners

"But what of the gossip you have warned me about? And your wife is still with her parents" Madelaine noticed that the theatregoers had all but disappeared frolanced at Sher Racine?"

His face did not change, but his voice softened "No"

"Nor am I," said Madelaine, who had seen Phaedre more than twenty times in the last sixty years "Surely there is so?"

Most of those going to the theatre were in their place The feho remained on the street hurried to reach their seats before the curtain went up; they paid no attention to Madelaine and Sherhed once "There are rooms at the casinos, private rooms Men dine there, in private Sonations"

"Would that bother you?" asked Madelaine "Going to such a place?"

"It should bother you," said Sherman sternly Then he made up his mind He took her by the elbow and started to lead her in the direction away froe is in a livery around the corner on Pine Street," he said

"I wish you would not hold on to my arm in that manner," she said to hirined "Iunsuitable, Madame" He put more than two feet between theuard--"