"He is probably about tipsy enough now to tell all he knows, and, with an acquired truthfulness.

I will, therefore, bring this festive occasion to a close." Whereat the watchful Lucullus of the feast artfully drew Madame Frangipanni aside.
"I have to go on to London, Chere Comtesse," he flatteringly said, "you must give me Casimir for a couple of hours to-night, to talk over the old times." He lingered a moment, hat in hand, as he chivalrously sent Madame Frangipanni home in a carriage.

The poor old singer's bosom was thrilled with a sunset glow of departing greatness, as she lingered tearfully that night over the memories of the halcyon days when the officers of Francis Joseph's bodyguard had fought for the honors of the carriage courtesies of the Diva.

Eheu fugaces! Closeted together, the minor guests having been artfully dispersed, Major Alan Hawke and his friend recalled the olden glories of Wieniawski's Indian tour.

It was with a jealous hand that Hawke doled out the cognac, until Casimir abruptly said: "And now, mon ami, tell me what has linked you to Alixe Delavigne ?" Alan Hawke had keenly studied his man, and found that the limit of the artist's drinking capacity seemed to be infinity, and so he leaned back and coldly scrutinized the musician's shabby exterior.