Audrey had come to France, and she was going to Paris, solely because of a vision which had been created in her by the letters and by the photographs of Madame Piriac.  Although Madame Piriac and she had absolutely no tie of blood, Madame Piriac being the daughter by a first husband of the French widow who became the first Mrs. Moze—­and speedily died, Audrey persisted privately in regarding Madame Piriac as a kind of elder sister.  She felt a very considerable esteem for Madame Piriac, upon whom she had never set eyes, and Madame Piriac had certainly given her the impression that France was to England what paradise is to purgatory.  Further, Audrey had fallen in love with Madame Piriac’s portraits, whose elegance was superb.  And yet, too, Audrey was jealous of Madame Piriac, and especially so since the attainment of freedom and wealth.  Madame Piriac had most warmly invited her, after the death of Mrs. Moze, to pay a long visit to Paris as a guest in her home.  Audrey had declined—­from jealousy.  She would not go to Madame Piriac’s as a raw girl, overdone with money, who could only speak one language and who knew nothing at all of this our planet.  She would go, if she went, as a young woman of the world who could hold her own in any drawing-room, be it Madame Piriac’s or another.  Hence Miss Ingate had obtained the address of a Paris boarding-house, and one or two preliminary introductions from political friends in London.

Well, France was not equal to its reputation; and Miss Ingate’s sardonic smile seemed to be saying:  “So this is your France!”

However, the excitement of escorting the youngest English peeress to Paris sufficed for Audrey, even if it did not suffice for Miss Ingate with her middle-aged apprehensions.  They knew that Lady Southminster was the youngest English peeress because she had told them so.  At the very moment when they were dispatching a telegram for her to an address in London, she had popped out the remark:  “Do you know I’m the youngest peeress in England?” And truth shone in her candid and simple smile.  They had not found the peer, neither on the ship, nor on the quay, nor in the station.  And the peeress would not wait.  She was indeed obviously frightened at the idea of remaining in Calais alone, even till the next express.  She said that her husband’s “man” would meet the train in Paris.  She ate plenteously with Audrey and Miss Ingate in the refreshment-room, and she would not leave them nor allow them to leave her.  The easiest course was to let her have her way, and she had it.

By dint of Miss Ingate’s unscrupulous tricks with small baggage they contrived to keep a whole compartment to themselves.  As soon as the train started the peeress began to cry.  Then, wiping her heavenly silly eyes, and upbraiding herself, she related to her protectresses the glory of a new manicure set.  Unfortunately she could not show them the set, as it had been left in the cabin.  She was actually in possession of nothing portable except her clothes, some English magazines bought at Calais, and a handbag which contained much money and many bonbons.