“That makes five,” said Peter.

“Oh, goody!” said Leonore, “I mean,” she said, correcting herself, “that that is very kind of you.”

“And now the sixth?”

“That must be a man of course,” said Leonore, wrinkling up her forehead in the intensity of puzzlement.  “And I know so few men.”  She looked out into space, and Peter had a moment’s fear lest she should see the marquis, and name him.  “There’s one friend of yours I’m very anxious to meet.  I wonder if you would be willing to ask him?”

“Who is that?”

“Mr. Moriarty.”

“No, I can’t ask him, I don’t want to cheapen him by making a show of him.”

“Oh!  I haven’t that feeling about him.  I——­”

“I think you would understand him and see the fine qualities.  But do you think others would?” Peter mentioned no names, but Leonore understood.

“No,” she said.  “You are quite right.”

“You shall meet him some day,” said Peter, “if you wish, but when we can have only people who won’t embarrass or laugh at him.”

“Really, I don’t know whom to select.”

“Perhaps you would like to meet Le Grand?”

“Very much.  He is just the man.”

“Then we’ll consider that settled.  Are you free for the ninth?”

“Yes.  I’m not going out this spring, and mamma and papa haven’t really begun yet, and it’s so late in the season that I’m sure we are free.”

“Then I will ice the canvas-backs and champagne and dust off the Burgundy for that day, if your mamma accedes.”

“Peter, I wanted to ask you the other day about that.  I thought you didn’t drink wine.”

“I don’t.  But I give my friends a glass, when they are good enough to come to me.  I live my own life, to please myself, but for that very reason, I want others to live their lives to please themselves.  Trying to live other people’s lives for them, is a pretty dog-in-the-manger business.”

Just then Mrs. D’Alloi joined them.  “Were you able to translate it?” she asked, sitting down by them.

“Yes, indeed,” said Leonore.  “It means ‘Towards the right side,’ or as a motto it might be translated, ‘For the right side.’”

Mrs. D’Alloi had clearly, to use a western expression, come determined to “settle down and grow up with the country.”  So Peter broached the subject of the dinner, and when she hesitated, Leonore called Watts into the group.  He threw the casting ballot in favor of the dinner, and so it was agreed upon.  Peter was asked to come to Leonore’s birthday festival, “If you don’t mind such short notice,” and he didn’t mind, apparently.  Then the conversation wandered at will till Peter rose.  In doing so, he turned to Leonore, and said: 

“I looked the question of nationality up to-day, and found I was right.  I’ve written out a legal opinion in my best hand, and will deliver it to you, on receiving my fee.”

“How much is that?” said Leonore, eagerly.