“This is an unexpected pleasure, my dearest Olga!”

And to that the lady replied, more loudly:  “Yes, I returned to Paris only to-day.  You didn’t know, of course.  I heard you were entertaining this evening, and so I came, knowing that I should be welcome.”

“Always!” said Captain Stewart—­“always more than welcome!”

He nodded to one or two of the men who stood near, and when they approached presented them.  Ste. Marie observed that he used the lady’s true name—­she had, at times, found occasion to employ others—­and that he politely called her “Madame Nilssen” instead of “Mademoiselle.”  But at that moment the lady caught sight of Ste. Marie, and, crying out his name in a tone of delighted astonishment, turned away from the other men, brushing past them as if they had been furniture, and advanced holding out both her hands in greeting.

“Dear Ste. Marie!” she exclaimed.  “Fancy finding you here!  I’m so glad!  Oh, I’m so very glad!  Take me away from these people!  Find a corner where we can talk.  Ah, there is one with a big seat!  Allons-y!”

She addressed him for the most part in English, which she spoke perfectly—­as perfectly as she spoke French and German and, presumably, her native tongue, which must have been Swedish.

They went to the broad, low seat, a sort of hard-cushioned bench, which stood against one of the walls, and made themselves comfortable there by the only possible means, which, owing to the width of the thing, was to sit far back with their feet stuck straight out before them.  Captain Stewart had followed them across the room and showed a strong tendency to remain.  Ste. Marie observed that his eyes were hard and bright and very alert, and that there were two bright spots of color in his yellow cheeks.  It occurred to Ste. Marie that the man was afraid to leave him alone with Olga Nilssen, and he smiled to himself, reflecting that the lady, even if indiscreetly inclined, could tell him nothing—­save in details—­that he did not already know.  But after a few rather awkward moments Mile.  Nilssen waved an irritated hand.

“Go away!” she said to her host.  “Go away to your other guests!  I want to talk to Ste. Marie.  We have old times to talk over.”

And after hesitating awhile uneasily, Captain Stewart turned back into the room; but for some time thereafter Ste. Marie was aware that a vigilant eye was being kept upon them and that their host was by no means at his ease.

When they were left alone together the girl turned to him and patted his arm affectionately.  She said: 

“Ah, but it is very good to see you again, mon cher ami!  It has been so long!” She gave an abrupt frown.  “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

And she said an unkind thing about her fellow-guests.  She called them “canaille.”  She said: 

“Why are you wasting your time among these canaille?  This is not a place for you.  Why did you come?”