THE meeting of the clans was fixed for eleven o’clock in Régine Aubry’s boudoir. When Van Houben got there, he found d’Enneris making himself thoroughly at home, indulging in airy badinage with the actress and Arlette Mazolle. All three seemed highly amused. It was hard to believe that Arlette, bubbling over with high spirits, even if a trifle tired, was the same girl who had spent such hours of anguish only the previous night. Her eyes were fixed on d’Enneris. Like Régine, she hung on his words, laughing merrily at his lighthearted wit.
Van Houben, thoroughly upset by the loss of his diamonds, and seeing life as one great tragedy, was moved to furious ejaculation.
“Ha, ha! Laugh, damn you! Funny, isn’t it?”
“Well, really,” said d’Enneris mildly, “all is not lost. On the whole, everythi
