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   Only yesterday I bought her a pearl of Stewart for twenty thousand francs. How could she so deceive me!' Upon my word, Doctor, he yelped like a coyote!

And have you lived all of this time,' I interrupted, quite out of patience with the old fool, 'and not discovered that yachts and pearls and kindness do not count for everything with a beautiful woman like the Countess when'

" 'But you do me injustice!' he protested. 'Of course, I saw that she desired M. Stewart for her lover'—he mopped his eyes—'it was most natural that she should! One does not retain his youth forever, Doctor'—his voice was deprecating. 'Stewart is a charming fellow—handsome, dashing, libertin. Few women could resist him. But since she so much desired him, why in heaven's name did she not take him, instead of growing pale and maigre and finally bolting off on a stinking oyster boat! I ask you, my friend, was not [ 180 ]