“Fortunately I saw your dilemma,” he explained.
“I have a cab on the corner yonder, and it is
entirely at your service.”
“Now that... is real good of you,” declared
Denise Ryland. “I think you’re...
a brick."...
“But, my dear Miss Ryland!” cried Helen,
“we cannot possibly deprive M. Gaston of his
cab on a night like this!”
“I had hoped,” said the Frenchman, bowing
gallantly, “that this most happy reunion might
not be allowed to pass uncelebrated. Tell me if
I intrude upon other plans, because I am speaking
selfishly; but I was on my way to a lonely supper,
and apart from the great pleasure which your company
would afford me, you would be such very good Samaritans
if you would join me.”
Helen Cumberly, although she was succumbing rapidly
to the singular fascination of M. Max, exhibited a
certain hesitancy. She was no stranger to Bohemian
customs, and if the distinguished Frenchman had been
an old friend of her companion’s, she should
have accepted without demur; but she knew that the
acquaintance had commenced in a Continental railway
train, and her natural prudence instinctively took
up a brief for the prosecution. But Denise Ryland
had other views.
“My dear girl,” she said, “you are
not going to be so... crack-brained... as to stand
here... arguing and contracting... rheumatism, lumbago...
and other absurd complaints... when you know perfectly
well that we had already arranged to go... to supper!”
She turned to the smiling Max. “This girl
needs... Dragging out of... her morbid self...
M. Gaston! We’ll accept... your cab, on
the distinct... understanding that you are to
accept our invitation... to supper.”
M. Max bowed agreeably.
“By all means let my cab take us to your
supper,” he said, laughing.
M. MAX MOUNTS CAGLIOSTRO’S STAIRCASE
At a few minutes before midnight, Helen Cumberly and
Denise Ryland, escorted by the attentive Frenchman,
arrived at Palace Mansions. Any distrust which
Helen had experienced at first was replaced now by
the esteem which every one of discrimination (criminals
excluded) formed of M. Max. She perceived in
him a very exquisite gentleman, and although the acquaintance
was but one hour old, counted him a friend. Denise
Ryland was already quite at home in the Cumberly household,
and she insisted that Dr. Cumberly would be deeply
mortified should M. Gaston take his departure without
making his acquaintance. Thus it came about that
M. Gaston Max was presented (as “M. Gaston”)
to Dr. Cumberly.
Cumberly, who had learned to accept men and women
upon his daughter’s estimate, welcomed the resplendent
Parisian hospitably; the warm, shaded lights made
convivial play in the amber deeps of the decanters,
and the cigars had a fire-side fragrance which M.
Max found wholly irresistible.
