At The Villa Rose

Hanaud leaned across the table to Celia and said in a low voice: "Mademoiselle, if I may suggest it, it would be as well if you put

on your gloves; otherwise they may notice your wrists."

Celia followed his advice. She ate some food and drank a glass of

champagne. A little colour returned to her cheeks.

"You are very kind to me, you and monsieur your friend," she said,

with a smile towards Ricardo. "But for you--" and her voice shook.

"Hush!" said Hanaud--"all that is over; we will not speak of it."

Celia looked out across the road on to the trees, of which the

dark foliage was brightened and made pale by the lights of the

restaurant. Out on the water some one was singing.

"It seems impossible to me," she said in a low voice, "that I am

here, in the open air, and free."

Hanaud looked at his watch.

"Mlle. Celie, it is past ten o'clock. M. Ricardo's car is waiting

there under the trees. I want you to drive back to Aix. I have

taken rooms for you at an hotel, and there will be a nurse from

the hospital to look after you."

"Thank you, monsieur," she said; "you have thought of everything.

But I shall not need a nurse."

"But you will have a nurse," said Hanaud firmly. "You feel

stronger now--yes, but when you lay your head upon your pillow,

mademoiselle, it will be a comfort to you to know that you have

her within call. And in a day or two," he added gently, "you will

perhaps be able to tell us what happened on Tuesday night at the

Villa Rose?"

Celia covered her face with her hands for a few moments. Then she

drew them away and said simply: "Yes, monsieur, I will tell you."

Hanaud bowed to her with a genuine deference.

"Thank you, mademoiselle," he said, and in his voice there was a

strong ring of sympathy.

They went downstairs and entered Ricardo's motor car.

"I want to send a telephone message," said Hanaud, "if you will

wait here."

"No!" cried Celia decisively, and she again laid hold of his coat,

with a pretty imperiousness, as though he belonged to her.

"But I must," said Hanaud with a laugh.

"Then I will come too," said Celia, and she opened the door and

set a foot upon the step.

"You will not, mademoiselle," said Hanaud, with a laugh. "Will you

take your foot back into that car? That is better. Now you will

sit with your friend, M. Ricardo, whom, by the way, I have not yet

introduced to you. He is a very good friend of yours,

mademoiselle, and will in the future be a still better one."