"
"If I may assure my mother that there are no perils."
Something took place beneath the gray mustache--a smile or a pursing up
of the lips in doubt.
"Ah, I cannot go so far as that. You may assure Lady Delafield that I
will protect you as I would my own daughter. If--well, if the good God
in heaven had not had other uses for me I should have had a daughter of
your age. Ach! the music has stopped. The music always does stop, Miss
Delafield; that is the worst of it. Thank you for dancing with an old
buffer."
He took her back to her chaperon, bowed in his old-world way to both
ladies, and left them.
"If I can help it, my very dear young friend," he said to himself as he
crossed the room, looking for Paul, "you will not go to Osterno."
He found Paul talking to two men.
"You here!" said Paul, in surprise.
"Yes," answered Steinmetz, shaking hands. "I gave Lady Fontain five
guineas to let me in, and now I want a couple of chairs and a quiet
corner, if the money includes such."
"Come up into the gallery," replied Paul.
A certain listlessness which had been his a moment before vanished when
Paul recognized his friend. He led the way up the narrow stairs. In the
gallery they found a few people--couples seeking, like themselves, a
rare solitude.
"What news?" asked Paul, sitting down.
"Bad!" replied Steinmetz.
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