But when tea had been brought, and they were alone over the fire, Raymond unfolded the amazing sequel.  Hubert had found an heiress, Hubert was to be married, and henceforth the business of paying his debts (which might be counted on to recur as inevitably as the changes of the seasons) would devolve on his American bride—­the charming Miss Looty Arlington, whom Raymond had remained over in Paris to meet.

“An American?  He’s marrying an American?” Undine wavered between wrath and satisfaction.  She felt a flash of resentment at any other intruder’s venturing upon her territory—­("Looty Arlington?  Who is she?  What a name!")—­but it was quickly superseded by the relief of knowing that henceforth, as Raymond said, Hubert’s debts would be some one else’s business.  Then a third consideration prevailed.  “But if he’s engaged to a rich girl, why on earth do we have to pull him out?”

Her husband explained that no other course was possible.  Though General Arlington was immensely wealthy, ("her father’s a general—­a General Manager, whatever that may be,”) he had exacted what he called “a clean slate” from his future son-in-law, and Hubert’s creditors (the boy was such a donkey!) had in their possession certain papers that made it possible for them to press for immediate payment.

“Your compatriots’ views on such matters are so rigid—­and it’s all to their credit—­that the marriage would have fallen through at once if the least hint of Hubert’s mess had got out—­and then we should have had him on our hands for life.”

Yes—­from that point of view it was doubtless best to pay up; but Undine obscurely wished that their doing so had not incidentally helped an unknown compatriot to what the American papers were no doubt already announcing as “another brilliant foreign alliance.”

“Where on earth did your brother pick up anybody respectable?  Do you know where her people come from?  I suppose she’s perfectly awful,” she broke out with a sudden escape of irritation.

“I believe Hubert made her acquaintance at a skating rink.  They come from some new state—­the general apologized for its not yet being on the map, but seemed surprised I hadn’t heard of it.  He said it was already known as one of ‘the divorce states,’ and the principal city had, in consequence, a very agreeable society.  La petite n’est vraiment pas trop mal.”

“I daresay not!  We’re all good-looking.  But she must be horribly common.”

Raymond seemed sincerely unable to formulate a judgment.  “My dear, you have your own customs...”

“Oh, I know we’re all alike to you!” It was one of her grievances that he never attempted to discriminate between Americans.  “You see no difference between me and a girl one gets engaged to at a skating rink!”

He evaded the challenge by rejoining:  “Miss Arlington’s burning to know you.  She says she’s heard a great deal about you, and Hubert wants to bring her down next week.  I think we’d better do what we can.”