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must have seen him--but I myself have seen very little of Maurice

lately--how did he knoas intermittent--?

"Maurice told you?" I said

"Maurice?"--her once lovely eyes opened wide--she has a habit of

screwing thelasses--"Do you

suppose I have been on a partie de plaisir, my son--that I should have

encountered Maurice--!"

I dared not ask as her informant--

"Yes, I work for several days in succession, and then I have no ideas

It is a pretty poor performance anyway--and is not likely to find a

publisher"

"You are content with your Secretary?"

This was said with an air of co

in it of the kind Madame de Clerté would have instilled into the tone

"Yes--she is wonderfully diligent--it is ie her for

a moment from her work She thinks me a poor creature I expect"

The Duchesse's eyes, half closed noatching me keenly--

"Why should she think that, Nicholas--you can't after all fight"