"Nevertheless, I do not know her."

"Well, you will have an opportunity. She is going to America,
and, since she is on this train, she will, of course, take the
same boat as yourself. But, my friend, beware!"

"But who is she?"

"Desiree Le Mire."



Chapter II.

BEGINNING THE DANCE.


It developed, luckily for me, that my lawyers had allowed
themselves to become unduly excited over a trifle. A discrepancy
had been discovered in my agent's accounts; it was clearly
established that he had been speculating; but the fellow's
excessive modesty and moderation had saved me from any serious
inconvenience or loss.

Some twenty thousand or so was the amount, and I did not even put
myself to the trouble of recovering it. I placed a friend of
mine, a plodder and one of those chaps who are honest on account
of lack of imagination, in the position thus vacated and sighed
with mild relief.