Man and Maid

"Then what do you suggest, Burton?"

"Why, I hardly know--perhaps to wait and see, Sir Nicholas."

"Masterly inactivity!"

"It might be that I could do a bit of finding out if I felt sure no harm

could come of it."

I was not quite certain what Burton meant by this--What possible harm

could come of it?

"Find out all you can and let me know--."

* * * * *

Suzette opened the door and came in just as I finished dressing--Burton

left the room.--She was pouting.

"So the book is not completed, Nicholas?--and the English Mees comes

three times a week--hein?"

"Yes--does that upset you?"

"I should say!"

"May I not have a secretary?--You will be objecting to my Aunt coming to

stay with me, or my dining with my friends--next!"

I was angry--.

"No--mon ami--not that--they are not for me--those--but a secretary--a

'Mees'--tiens?--for why do you want us two?"

"You two! good Lord! Do you think, Suzette--Mon Dieu!"--I now became

very angry. "My secretary is here to type my book--. Let us understand

one another quite--You have overstepped the mark this time, Suzette, and

there must be an end. Name whatever sum you want me to settle on you and

then I don't ever wish to see you again."

She burst into frantic weeping. She had meant nothing--she was

jealous--she loved me--even going to the sea could do nothing for her! I

was her adoré--her sun, moon and stars--of what matter a leg or an

eye--! I was her life--her Amant!!

"Nonsense, Suzette!--you have told me often it was only because I was

very rich--now be sensible--these things have to have an end some day. I

shall be going back to England soon, so just let me make you comfortable

and happy and let us part friends--."

She still stormed and raged--'There was someone else--it was the

"Mees"--I had been different ever since she had come to the flat--She,

Suzette, would be revenged--she would kill her--!' Then I flew into a rage, and dominated her, and when I had her

thoroughly frightened I appealed to the best in her--and when she was

sobbing quietly Burton came in to say that dinner was ready--his face

was eloquent!

"Don't let the waiters see you like that," I said.

Suzette rushed to the glass and looked at herself, and then began

opening her gold chain bag to get out her powder and lip grease--I went

on into the salon and left her--.