“But she isn’t there,” said Carlton.

“That’s the eldest sister; the two other sisters went out on the coach this morning to Versailles, and were too tired to come tonight.  At least, so Nolan says.  He seems to have established a friendship for their English maid, but whether it’s on my account or his own I don’t know.  I doubt his unselfishness.”

“How disappointing of her!” said Miss Morris.  “And after you had selected a box just across the way, too.  It is such a pity to waste it on us.”  Carlton smiled, and looked up at her impudently, as though he meant to say something; but remembering that she was engaged to be married, changed his mind, and lowered his eyes to his programme.

“Why didn’t you say it?” asked Miss Morris, calmly, turning her glass to the stage.  “Wasn’t it pretty?”

“No,” said Carlton—­“not pretty enough.”

The ladies left the hotel the next day to take the Orient Express, which left Paris at six o’clock.  They had bidden Carlton goodbye at four the same afternoon, and as he had come to their rooms for that purpose, they were in consequence a little surprised to see him at the station, running wildly along the platform, followed by Nolan and a porter.  He came into their compartment after the train had started, and shook his head sadly at them from the door.

“Well, what do you think of this?” he said.  “You can’t get rid of me, you see.  I’m going with you.”

“Going with us?” asked Mrs. Downs.  “How far?”

Carlton laughed, and, coming inside, dropped onto the cushions with a sigh.  “I don’t know,” he said, dejectedly.  “All the way, I’m afraid.  That is, I mean, I’m very glad I am to have your society for a few days more; but really I didn’t bargain for this.”

“You don’t mean to tell me that they are on this train?” said Miss Morris.

“They are,” said Carlton.  “They have a car to themselves at the rear.  They only made up their minds to go this morning, and they nearly succeeded in giving me the slip again; but it seems that their English maid stopped Nolan in the hall to bid him good-bye, and so he found out their plans.  They are going direct to Constantinople, and then to Athens.  They had meant to stay in Paris two weeks longer, it seems, but they changed their minds last night.  It was a very close shave for me.  I only got back to the hotel in time to hear from the concierge that Nolan had flown with all of my things, and left word for me to follow.  Just fancy!  Suppose I had missed the train, and had had to chase him clear across the continent of Europe with not even a razor—­”

“I am glad,” said Miss Morris, “that Nolan has not taken a fancy to me.  I doubt if I could resist such impetuosity.”