"I do not know," answered Marie; "but I have noticed that men laugh a great deal more about some things than women." "Then that is because women are fools," affirmed Marjory petulantly. Though Marie was by no means convinced, she was ready to drop the matter in her admiration of the picture her mistress made when properly gowned. Whether she wished or not, madame, when she was done with her this evening, looked as a bride should look. And monsieur, waiting below, was worthy of her. In his evening clothes he looked at least a foot taller than usual. Marie saw his eyes warm as he slipped over madame's beautiful white shoulders her evening wrap. [Illustration: Monsieur's eyes warmed as he slipped the wrap over madame's shoulders] Before madame left she turned and whispered in Marie's ear. "I may be late," she said; "but you will be here when I return." "Yes, mademoiselle." "Without fail?" "Yes, mademoiselle." Marie watched monsieur take his bride's arm as they went out the door, and the thing she whispered to herself had nothing to do with madame at all. "Poor monsieur!" she said. CHAPTER X THE AFFAIR AT MAXIM'S It was all new to Marjory. In the year and a half she had lived in Paris with her aunt she had dined mostly in her room. Such cafes as this she had seen only occasionally from a cab on her way to the opera. As she stood at the entrance to the big room, which sparkled like a diamond beneath a light, she was as dazed as a debutante entering her first ballroom. The head waiter, after one glance at Monte, was bent upon securing the best available table. Here was an American prince, if ever he had seen one.