Part 16 (2/2)

”We went this afternoon to see Jack's horse,” Miss Malines said to the Marquis Whatever she said, no ather what they could ”Bon Jour's a beauty--a dear, and as fit as possible Oh, she's in great form! Jack's crazy about her, and so is the jockey I know Bon Jour in! I' to put twenty-five francs on her to-morrow”

Mary Falconer sranted, ”are of course betting on the favorite?”

”If you mean Grimace--” his tone was indifferent--”no, I shall back your husband's horse”

”_Jied, and her expression as well

De Presle-Vaulx saw it, and he kneomen's voices can mean He was a Frenchman, and he understood what a slow, delicious flush, a darkening of the eyes, a sharp note in the voice can signify of feeling--as well as of gratitude, surprise and a little scorn There was all this in Mary Falconer's exclamation and her face

”And Maurice!” Molly said, ”of course, you're doing the sairlish enthusiased, hesitated, looked at Bulstrode, at Molly, and laughed The presence of the others and the custom of his country made it only a pretty courtesy--he lifted Molly's hand to his lips

”Of course--_chere Made Bon Jour with all arded her friend with a pretty griether all four, Bulstrode said to himself:

”He's a sport, a true sport--that's five thousand francs to the bad

He was gaood sport and, better yet, he's a true lover!”

Whether or not Mary Falconer really had an exalted idea of the hly understood the situation, hoas her friend to know?

Falconer adored the horse, and the lady showed in theelse, a fine loyalty to her husband, which was undoubtedly one of the reasons why--but this is going too deeply into the dos, which, since he keeps them honorably sealed, it is unworthy to surprise even in the interest of psychology

Bulstrode saw that his friend was pleased: her color, herspirits at dinner, showed it She spoke with interest of the races, and with confidence greater than she had hitherto evinced in the fortunes of her husband's racer--indeed she talked horse to Molly's edification, her husband's delight, and Bulstrode's admiration All this--the sense that the party was, so to speak, with him--put Jack Falconer in the best of spirits, and the unruffled course of the dinner, and, above all, the humor of the elder of the two ladies, quite repaid Jimmy Bulstrode for the sure loss of his stakes

”Does she really think that I have faith in the horse?” he wondered---ne she was drinking They did not answer in text his question, but their glow and the light of content in thereater interest

She was not unhappy All his life, since his acquaintance with her, it had been his aim, in so far as he could aid it, that she should not be unhappy His idea of affection was that in all cases it should bring to the object--joy In his own life these things which brought hiht be, the after taste of regret and misery he strove with all his ued, ”ifbut peace, it would be better that we had never looked into each other's eyes”

There was nothing especially buoyant, in the attitude of the young Marquis! His inclination to feminine will had cost hiramme to feel sure--five thousand francs, which he had not the , very much later, indeed well on to one o'clock, Bulstrode, wandering through the baccarat rooms--for no other purpose, it would be said from his indifferent air, than to study types--saw Maurice de Presle-Vaulx just leaving the Casino

Bulstrode's air was as friendly and as nave as though he had not a pretty clear idea of just how the tide of events was fluctuating towardnoble so to drink or eat?

What do you say to a piece of _perdreau_ and sone?”

The Frenchman followed the older man, who in contrast to his pallor looked the picture of health and spirits Bulstrode cheerily led him to a small table in the corner of the restaurant, where they sat opposite one another, and for a little tiht supper served them

The Marquis drank alad, in truth, to break the fast of a long evening which he had spent in the close rooms: for no other reason than unseen, to befriend--and unasked, to chaperone Molly's lover Finally, when he felt that the rightman, and said frankly:

”Voyons, mon ami, don't you feel that you can talk to me a little more freely than you could possibly to even so kind and char a friend as Mrs Falconer? We are not of the same race, perhaps, but then under certain circumstances such distinctions are not ih in presenting theht prick him--”How do _you_ now stand?--I ainst you, I'm afraid”