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〃　Have　a　drink；〃　he　said。　The　students　arose　around　him　like　the　wave　of　a　flood。　〃You　bet。〃　In　the　absence　of　changes　of　clothing；　ordinary　food；　the　possibility　of　a　bath；　and　in　the　presence　of　great　weariness　and　dust；　Coleman's　whisky　seemed　to　them　a　glistening　luxury。　Afterward　they　laid　down　as　if　to　sleep；　but　in　reality　they　were　too　dirty　and　too　fagged　to　sleep。　They　simply　lay　murmuring　Peter　Tounley　even　developed　a　small　fever。

It　was　at　this　time　that　Coleman。　suddenly　discovered　his　acute　interest　in　the　progressive　troubles　of　his　affair　of　the　heart　had　placed　the　business　of　his　newspaper　in　the　rear　of　his　mind。　The　greater　part　of　the　next　hour　he　spent　in　getting　off　to　New　York　that　dispatch　which　created　so　much　excitement　for　him　later。　Afterward　he　was　free　to　reflect　moodily　upon　the　ability　of　Nora　Black　to　distress　him。　She；　with　her　retinue；　had　disappeared　toward　her　own　rooms。　At　dusk　he　went　into　the　street；　and　was　edified　to　see　Nora's　dragoman　dodging　along　in　his　wake。　He　thought　that　this　was　simply　another　manifestation　of　Nora's　interest　in　his　movements；　and　so　he　turned　a　corner；　and　there　pausing；　waited　until　the　dragoman　spun　around　directly　into　his　arms。　But　it　seemed　that　the　man　had　a　note　to　deliver；　and　this　was　only　his　Oriental　way　of　doing　it。

The　note　read：　〃　Come　and　dine　with　me　to…night。〃　It　was；　not　a　request。　It　was　peremptory。　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　scowling　at　the　man。

He　did　not　go　at　once；　for　he　wished　to　reflect　for　a　time　and　find　if　he　could　not　evolve　some　weapons　of　his　own。　It　seemed　to　him　that　all　the　others　were　liberally　supplied　with　weapons。

A　clear；　cold　night　had　come　upon　the　earth　when　he　signified　to　the　lurking　dragoman　that　he　was　in　readiness　to　depart　with　him　to　Nora's　abode。　They　passed　finally　into　a　dark　court…yard；　up　a　winding　staircase；　across　an　embowered　balcony；　and　Coleman　entered　alone　a　room　where　there　were　lights。

His；　feet　were　scarcely　over　the　threshold　before　he　had　concluded　that　the　tigress　was　now　going　to　try　some　velvet　purring。　He　noted　that　the　arts　of　the　stage　had　not　been　thought　too　cheaply　obvious　for　use。　Nora　sat　facing　the　door。　A　bit　of　yellow　silk　had　been　twisted　about　the　crude　shape　of　the　lamp；　and　it　made　the　play　of　light；　amber…like；　shadowy　and　yet　perfectly　clear；　the　light　which　women　love。　She　was　arrayed　in　a　puzzling　gown　of　that　kind　of　Gre…　cian　silk　which　is　so　docile　that　one　can　pull　yards　of　it　through　a　ring。　It　was　of　the　colour　of　new　straw。　Her　chin　was　leaned　pensively　upon　her　palm　and　the　light　fell　on　a　pearly　rounded　forearm。　She　was　looking　at　him　with　a　pair　of　famous　eyes；　azure；　per…　haps…certainly　purple　at　times…and　it　may　be；　black　at　odd　moments…a　pair　of　eyes　that　had　made　many　an　honest　man's　heart　jump　if　he　thought　they　were　looking　at　him。　It　was　a　vision；　yes；　but　Coleman's　cynical　knowledge　of　drama　overpowered　his　sense　of　its　beauty。　He　broke　out　brutally；　in　the　phrases　of　the　American　street。　〃Your　dragoman　is　a　rubber…neck。　　If　he　keeps　darking　me　I　will　simply　have　to　kick　the　stuffing　out　of　him。〃

She　was　alone　in　the　room。　Her　old　lady　had　been　instructed　to　have　a　headache　and　send　apologies。　She　was　not　disturbed　by　Coleman's　words。　〃Sit　down；　Rufus；　and　have　a　cigarette；　and　don't　be　cross；　because　I　won't　stand　it。〃

He　obeyed　her　glumly。　She　had　placed　his　chair　where　not　a　charm　of　her　could　be　lost　upon　an　observant　man。　Evidently　she　did　not　purpose　to　allow　him　to　irritate　her　away　from　her　original　plan。　Purring　was　now　her　method；　and　none　of　his　insolence　could　achieve　a　growl　from　the　tigress。　She　arose；　saying　softly：　〃You　look　tired；　almost　ill；　poor　boy。　I　will　give　you　some　brandy。　I　have　almost　everything　that　I　could　think　to　make　those　Daylight　people　buy。〃　With　a　sweep　of　her　hand　she　indicated　the　astonishing　opulence　of　the　possessions　in　different　parts　of　the　room。

As　she　stood　over　him　with　the　brandy　there　came　through　the　smoke　of　his　cigarette　the　perfume　of　orris…root　and　violet。

A　servant　began　to　arrange　the　little　cold　dinner　on　a　camp　table；　and　Coleman　saw　with　an　enthusiasm　which　he　could　not　fully　master；　four　quart　bottles　of　a　notable　brand　of　champagne　placed　in　a　rank　on　the　floor。

At　dinner　Nora　was　sisterly。　She　watched　him；　waited　upon　him；　treated　him　to　an　affectionate　inti。　macy　for　which　he　knew　a　thousand　men　who　would　have　hated　him。　The　champagne　was　cold。

Slowly　he　melted。　By　the　time　that　the　boy　came　with　little　cups　of　Turkish　coffee　he　was　at　least　amiable。　Nora　talked　dreamily。　〃　The　dragoman　says　this　room　used　to　be　part　of　the　harem　long　ago。〃　She　shot　him　a　watchful　glance；　as　if　she　had　expected　the　fact　to　affect　him。　〃Seems　curious；　doesn't　it？　A　harem。　Fancy　that。〃　He　smoked　one　cigar　and　then　discarded　tobacco；　for　the　perfume　of　orris…root　and　violet　was　making　him　meditate。　Nora　talked　on　in　a　low　voice。　She　knew　that；　through　half…closed　lids；　he　was　looking　at　her　in　steady　speculation。　She　knew　that　she　was　conquering；　but　no　movement　of　hers　betrayed　an　elation。　With　the　most　exquisite　art　she　aided　his　contemplation；　baring　to　him；　for　instance；　the　glories　of　a　statuesque　neck；　doing　it　all　with　the　manner　of　a　splendid　and　fabulous　virgin　who　knew　not　that　there　was　such　a　thing　as　shame。　Her　stockings　were　of　black　silk。

Coleman　presently　answered　her　only　in　monosyllable；　making　small　distinction　between　yes　and　no。　He　simply　sat　watching　her　with　eyes　in　which　there　were　two　little　covetous　steel…coloured　flames。

He　was　thinking；　〃To　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil　with　this　girl　is　not　a　bad　fate…not　a　bad　fate…not　a　bad　fate。〃





CHAPTER　XVII。

〃　Come　out　on　the　balcony；〃　cooed　Nora。　〃There　are　some　funny　old　storks　on　top　of　some　chimneys　near　here　and　they　clatter　like　mad　all　day　and　night。〃

They　moved　together　out　to　the　balcony；　but　Nora　retreated　with　a　little　cry　when　she　felt　the　coldness　of　the　night。　She　said　that　she　would　get　a　cloak。　Coleman　was　not　unlike　a　man　in　a　dream。　He　walked　to　the　rail　of　the　balcony　where　a　great　vine　climbed　toward　the　roof。　He　noted　that　it　was　dotted　with。　blossoms；　which　in　the　deep　purple　of　the　Oriental　night　were　coloured　in　strange　shades　of　maroon。　This　truth　penetrated　his　abstraction　until　when　Nora　came　she　found　him　staring　at　them　as　if　their　colour　was　a　revelation　which　affected　him　vitally。　She　moved　to　his　side　without　sound　and　he　first　knew　of　her　presence　from　the　damning　fragrance。　She　spoke　just　above　her　breath。　〃It's　a　beautiful　evening。〃　〃　Yes；〃　he　answered。　She　was　at　his　shoulder。　If　he　moved　two　inches　he　must　come　in　contact。　They　remained　in　silence　leaning　upon　the　rail。　Finally　he　began　to　mutter　some　commonplaces　which　meant　nothing　particularly；　but　into　his　tone　as　he　mouthed　them　was　the　note　of　a　forlorn　and　passionate　lover。　Then　as　if　by　accident　he　traversed　the　two　inches　and　his　shoulder　was　against　the　soft　and　yet　firm　shoulder　of　Nora　Black。　There　was　something　in　his　throat　at　this　time　which　changed　his　voice　into　a　mere　choking　noise。　She　did　not　move。　He　could　see　her　eyes　glowing　innocently　out　of　the　pallour　which　the　darkness　gave　to　her　face。　If　he　was　touching　her；　she　did　not　seem　to　know　it。

〃I　am　awfully　tired；〃　said　Coleman；　thickly。　〃I　think　I　will　go　home　and　turn　in。〃

〃　You　must　be；　poor　boy；〃　said　Nora　tenderly。

〃Wouldn't　you　like　a　little　more　of　that　champagne？〃

〃　Well；　I　don't　mind　another　glass。〃

She　left　him　again　and　his　galloping　thought　pounded　to　the　old　refrain。　〃　To　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil…to　go　to　the　devil　with　this　girl　is　not　a　bad　fate…not　a　bad　fate…　not　a　bad　fate。〃　When　she　returned　he　drank　his　glass　of　champagne。　Then　he　mumbled：　〃　You　must　be　cold。　Let　me　put　your　cape　around　you　better。　It　won't　do　to　catch　cold　here；　you　know。〃

She　made　a　sweet　pretence　of　rendering　herself　to　his　care。　〃　Oh；　thanks　*　*　*　I　am　not　really　cold　*　*　*　There　that's　better。〃

Of　course　all　his　manipulation　of　the　cloak　had　been　a　fervid　caress；　and　although　her　acting　up　to　this　point　had　remained　in　the　role　of　the　splendid　and　fabulous　virgin　she　now　turned　her　liquid　eyes　to　his　with　a　look　that　expressed　knowledge；　triumph　and　delight。　She　was　sure　of　her　victory。　And　she　said：　〃Sweetheart　*　*　*　don't　you　think　I　am　as　nice　as　Marjory　？〃　The　impulse　had　been　airily　confident。　It　was　as　if　the　silken　cords　had　been　parted　by　the　sweep　of　a　sword。　Coleman's　face　had　instantly　stiffened　and　he　looked　like　a　man　suddenly　recalled　to　the　ways　of　light。　It　may　easily　have　been　that　in　a　moment　he　would　have　lapsed　again　to　his　luxurious　dreaming。　But　in　his　face　the　girl　had　read　a　fatal　character　to　her　blunder　and　her　resentment　against　him　took　precedence　of　any　other　emotion。　She　wheeled　abruptly　from　him　and　said　with　great　contempt：　〃　Rufus；　you　had　better　go　home。　You're　tired　and　sleepy；　and　more　or　less　drunk。〃

He　knew　that　the　grand　tumble　of　all　their　little　embowered　incident　could　be　neither　stayed　or　mended。　〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　sulkily；　〃I　think　so　too。〃　They　shook　hands　huffily　and　he　went　away。

When　he　arrived　among　the　students　he　found　that　they　had　appropriate