IN THE CHAMPS ELYSEES "You must accept," Steinmetz repeated to Paul.

"There is no help for it.
We cannot afford to offend Vassili, of all people in the world." They were standing together in the saloon of a suite of rooms assigned for the time to Paul and his party in the Hotel Bristol in Paris.
Steinmetz, who held an open letter in his hand, looked out of the window across the quiet Place Vendome.

A north wind was blowing with true Parisian keenness, driving before it a fine snow, which adhered bleakly to the northern face of a column which is chiefly remarkable for the facility with which it falls and rises again.
Steinmetz looked at the letter with a queer smile.

He held it out from him as if he distrusted the very stationery.
"So friendly," he exclaimed; "so very friendly! 'Ce bon Steinmetz' he calls me.

'Ce bon Steinmetz'-- confound his cheek! He hopes that his dear prince will waive ceremony and bring his charming princess to dine quite en famille at his little pied a terre in the Champs Elysees.