remely　sorry；〃　said　Derek。　〃I　have　a　very　important　engagement。〃

〃Mon　Dieu！　But　you　men　are　like　children；〃　exclaimed　the　dancer。　〃But　yes；　it's　the　spoilt　child　that　you　act　to　me；　ever　since　that　day　in　London　when　you　flung　yourself　out　of　my　flat；　you　sulk。　Ah！　mais　c'est　inou？！〃

〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　Derek；　〃I　really　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。　We　agreed　in　London　that　rats　desert　a　sinking　ship；　that　is　all　that　there　is　to　be　said。〃

In　spite　of　his　careless　words；　his　face　looked　haggard　and　strained。　Mirelle　leaned　forward　suddenly。

〃You　cannot　deceive　me；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　know　…　I　know　what　you　have　done　for　me。〃

He　looked　up　at　her　sharply。　Some　undercurrent　in　her　voice　arrested　his　attention。

She　nodded　her　head　at　him。

〃Ah！　have　no　fear；　I　am　discreet。　You　are　magnificent！　You　have　a　superb　courage；　but；　all　the　same；　it　was　I　who　gave　you　the　idea　that　day；　when　I　said　to　you　in　London　that　accidents　sometimes　happened。　And　you　are　not　in　danger？　The　police　do　not　suspect　you？〃

〃What　the　devil　…〃

〃Hush！〃

She　held　up　a　slim　olive　hand　with　one　big　emerald　on　the　little　finger。

〃You　are　right；　I　should　not　have　spoken　in　so　a　public　place。　We　will　not　speak　of　the　matter　again；　but　our　troubles　are　ended；　our　life　together　will　be　wonderful　…　wonderful！〃

Derek　laughed　suddenly　…　a　harsh；　disagreeable　laugh。

〃So　the　rats　e　back；　do　they？　Two　million　makes　a　difference　…　of　course　it　does。　I　ought　to　have　known　that。〃　He　laughed　again。　〃You　will　help　me　to　spend　that　two　million；　won't　you；　Mirelle？　You　know　how；　no　woman　better。〃　He　laughed　again。

〃Hush！〃　cried　the　dancer。　〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Dereek？　See　…　people　are　turning　to　stare　at　you。〃