"So the man from Washington told you to bring this to me ?" Roger Seaton asked the question of Manella, twirling in his hand an unopened letter she had just given him.

She nodded in the affirmative.
He looked at her critically, amused at the evident pains she had taken with her dress and general appearance.

He twirled the letter again like a toy in his fingers.
"I wonder what it's all about?
Do you know ?" Manella shrugged her shoulders with a charming air of indifference.
"I?
How should I know?
He is your friend I suppose ?" "Not a bit of it!" and Roger stretched himself lazily and yawned--"He's the friend of nobody who is poor.

But he's the comrade of everybody with plenty of cash.

He's as hard as a dried old walnut, without the shred of a heart--" "You are wrong!" said Manella, flushing up suddenly--"You are wrong and unjust! He is an ugly old man, but he is very kind." Seaton threw back his head and laughed heartily with real enjoyment.
"Manella, oh, Manella!" he exclaimed--"What has he said or done to you to win your good opinion?
Has he made you some pretty compliments, and told you that you are beautiful?
Every one can tell you that, my dear! It does not need Mr.Senator Gwent's assurance to emphasise the fact! That you find him an ugly old man is natural--but that you should also think him 'very kind' DOES surprise me!" Manella gazed at him seriously--her lovely eyes gleaming like jewels under her long black lashes.
"You mock at everything,"-- she said--"It is a pity!" Her tone was faintly reproachful.