the steward's wife; but he waited, like Bridau, for some word which might give him his cue; one of those words "de singe a dauphin" which artists, cruel, born-observers of the ridiculous--the pabulum of their pencils--seize with such avidity. Meantime Estelle's clumsy hands and feet struck their eyes, and presently a word, or phrase or two, betrayed her past, and quite out of keeping with the elegance of her dress, made the two young fellows aware of their prey. A single glance at each other was enough to arrange a scheme that they should take Estelle seriously on her own ground, and thus find amusement enough during the time of their stay. "You say you love art, madame; perhaps you cultivate it successfully," said Joseph Bridau. "No. Without being neglected, my education was purely commercial; but I have so profound and delicate a sense of art that Monsieur Schinner always asked me, when he had finished a piece of work, to give him my opinion on it." "Just as Moliere consulted La Foret," said Mistigris. Not knowing that La Foret was Moliere's servant-woman, Madame Moreau inclined her head graciously, showing that in her ignorance she accepted the speech as a compliment. "Didn't he propose to 'croquer' you?" asked Bridau. "Painters are eager enough after handsome women." "What may you mean by such language?" "In the studios we say croquer, craunch, nibble, for sketching," interposed Mistigris, with an insinuating air, "and we are always wanting to croquer beautiful heads. That's the origin of the expression, 'She is pretty enough to eat.'" "I was not aware of the origin of the term," she replied, with the sweetest glance at Mistigris. "My pupil here," said Bridau, "Monsieur Leon de Lora, shows a remarkable talent for portraiture. He would be too happy, I know, to leave you a souvenir of our stay by painting your charming head, madame." Joseph Bridau made a sign to Mistigris which meant: "Come, sail in, and push the matter; she is not so bad in looks, this woman." Accepting the glance, Leon de Lora slid down upon the sofa beside Estelle and took her hand, which she permitted. "Oh! madame, if you would like to offer a surprise to your husband, and will give me a few secret sittings I would endeavor to surpass