"You must flirt, Mr. Markham--and make pretty speeches--"

"Pretty speeches!"

"Oh, yes--you must treat every woman as though you adored her secretly,
and when ladies visit your studio you mustn't bang the door in their
faces."

"Did I do that?"

"Er--figuratively, yes. You were very impolite." She lay back and
laughed at him. "There--I feel better. Now we shall be good friends."

He fingered his goggles a moment, and then his eyes met hers in frank
agreement.

"I'm glad of that," he said, with a slow smile. "I like you a great
deal."

She straightened, her eyes sparkling merrily.

"You see? You're improving already. I have great hopes for you, Mr.
Markham." She threw a glance at the others and rose. "Here endeth the
first lesson. It is time to dress. We will resume after dinner. That
is," she added, "if Olga will spare you for a few moments."

"Olga--Madame Tcherny won't mind in the least," he laughed. "If you
can make me anybody but myself, she will thank you from the bottom of
her heart. Madame Tcherny is already at the point of giving me up as a
hopeless case."