Why, my friend,
why?"
Paul reflected, with a frown.
"We do not want him out there," he said.
"No; and if he goes there you must remain in England this winter."
Paul looked up sharply.
"I do not want to do that. It is all arranged," he said. "Etta was very
much against going at first, but I persuaded her to do so. It would be a
mistake not to go now."
Looking at him gravely, Steinmetz muttered, "I advise you not to go."
Paul shrugged his shoulders.
"I am sorry," he said. "It is too late now. Besides, I have invited Miss
Delafield, and she has practically accepted."
"Does that matter?" asked Steinmetz quietly.
"Yes. I do not want her to think that I am a changeable sort of person."
Steinmetz rose, and standing with his two hands on the marble rail he
looked down into the room below. The music of a waltz was just
beginning, and some of the more enthusiastic spirits had already begun
dancing, moving in and out among the uniforms and gay dresses.
"Well," he said resignedly; "it is as you will. There is a certain
pleasure in outwitting De Chauxville. He is so d--d clever!"
CHAPTER XVIII
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.
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