it a trifling matter; it is not to him; it is the crown of his existence.  And if he says, ’Do you see, this is what I am ready to do for her—­I will give my life if she or her friends wish it;’ then I say—­I, Calabressa—­that a portrait at one shilling, two shillings, ten shillings, is not so very much in return.  Now, my dear friend, you will consider the prudence of granting his request and mine.  I believe in his faithfulness.  If you say to him, ’The beautiful lady who was kind to you wishes you to do this or do that; or wishes you never to part with this portrait; or wishes you to keep silence on this or on that,’ you may depend on him.  I say so.  Adieu!  Say to the little one that there is some one who does not forget her.  Perhaps you will never hear from Calabressa again:  remember him not as a madcap, but as one who wishes you well.  To-morrow I start for Cyprus—­then farther—­with a light heart.  Adieu!

  “Calabressa.”

* * * * *

He handed the letter to Natalie’s mother.  The elder woman read the letter carefully.  She laughed quietly; but there were tears in her eyes.

“It is like my old friend Calabressa,” she said.  “Natalushka, they want you to give your portrait to this poor creature who adores you.  Why not?  Calabressa says he will do whatever you tell him.  Tell him, then, not to part with it; not to show it to any one, and not to say to any one he has seen either you or me here.  Is not that simple?  Tell him to come here to-morrow or next day; you can send the photograph to Mr. Brand.”

The girl went to the door, and said a few words to Kirski.  He said nothing in reply, but sunk on his knees, as he had done in Curzon Street, and took her hand and kissed it; then he rose, and bowed respectfully to the others, and left.

Presently Waters came in and announced that luncheon was on the table; the portieres were drawn aside; they passed into the farther end of the apartment, and sat down.  The banquet was not a sumptuous one, and there were no flowers on the table; but it was everything that any human being could have done in fifteen minutes; and these were bachelors’ rooms.  Natalie took care to make a pretty speech in the hearing of Mr. Waters.

“Yes, but you eat nothing,” the host said.  “Do you think your mother will have anything if she sees you indifferent?”

Presently the mother, who seemed to be much amused with something or other, said in French,

“Ah, my friend, I did not think my child would be so deceitful.  I did not think she would deceive you.”

The girl stared with wide eyes.

“She pretended to tell you what this poor man said to her,” said the mother, with a quiet smile.  “She forgot that some one else than herself might know Russian.”

Natalie flushed red.

“Mother!” she remonstrated.  “I said he had spoken a lot of foolish things.”

“After all,” said the mother, “he said no more than what Calabressa says in the letter.  You have been kind to him; he regards you as an angel; he will give you his life; you, or any one whom you love.  The poor man!  Did you see how he trembled?”