visits to New York are difficult to fix.  Was that the year I went to California?  If so, I did not go East as well, and yet I fancy I did. No, that was to Chicago and down home through St.  Louis."
"I mean for a considerable stay in New York?"
"Oh, I shouldn't forget that.  That was three years ago before I started for Paris," I said, laughing lightly.  "I had the time of my life then."
"Did you ever meet a Miss Christabel von Dreschler?"
Where was he leading me now?  What did he know? I shook my head meditatively.  "I have met hundreds of girls but I don't remember her among them."
"She must resemble you closely, Miss Gilmore, just as she has the same Christian name.  My brother knew her and declares that you remind him of her."
I laughed lightly and naturally.  "I should scarcely have believed he had eyes or thoughts for any woman except Madame d'Artelle."
"Pardon me if I put a very plain question.  You have acknowledged to be seeking your fortune here.  You are doing so in your own name?  You are not Miss von Dreschler?"
I took umbrage at once and showed it.  I rose and answered with all the offended dignity I could assume.  "When I have cause to hide myself under an alias, Count, it will be time to insult me with the suggestion that I am ashamed of my own name of Gilmore."
He was profuse in his apologies.  "Please do not think I intended the slightest insult.  Nothing was farther from my thoughts.  I was merely speaking out of my hope that that might be the case.  I am exceedingly sorry.  Pray resume your seat."
I had scored that game, so I consented to be pacified and sat down again.  I was curious to see what card he would play next.
He pulled at his fair moustache in some perplexity.
"You expressed a desire just now to have the advantage of my family's influence, Miss Gilmore."
"Am I to remain with Madame, then?" I asked, blandly.
"Of course you are, dear," she answered for herself.
"You are willing to help her and my brother in this important matter?" said the Count.
"How can I help?  I am only a stranger.  And I should not call it helping any one to connive at a marriage when one of the parties is already married.  I would not do that."
The handsome face darkened; and in his impatience of a check he made a bad slip.
"Our influence is powerful to help our friends, Miss Gilmore, and not less powerful to harm our antagonists."
I laughed, disagreeably.  "I see.  A bribe if I agree, a threat if I do not.  And how do you think you could harm an insignificant person like me?  I am not in the least afraid of you, Count."
"I did not mean to threaten," he said, rather sullenly, as he saw his mistake.  "You can do us neither harm nor good for that matter.  You are labouring under a mistake as to Madame d'Artelle's husband--her late husband; and by 

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