Pauline was certainly a very handsome girl, very tall and graceful, with rich brown hair, large full, frank eyes and tiny hands and feet. She was Pauline for everybody here but Madame L. de Portiera for Parisian Society.

There were only a few privileged persons at the Hotel X- who had seen her face. This house was a particularly exclusive one, and only frequented by the elite.

Indiscretion was unknown there. Amuse yourself as much as you like and as long as you like but never overstep the boundaries of good society. Such was the motto and the rule of this remarkable house.

A Minister, a Senator or a Prince could come here, give his name as Mr.

Toto and if he wished to remain incognito, he never would be anybody else but Mr. Toto while he remained there.

A mask to conceal your features was equally respected. A great many persons wore them, especially the ladies. That is why, as I said before, Madame de Portiera had only been seen by two or three privileged persons.

A few widowers and old bachelors like myself allowed their own names to be used because they had nothing to hide; and they never had cause to regret it.

Pauline (we will use her nom de guerre) wanted to see me to request that I would serve as sponsor to a new guest. I accepted at once and to the usual observations concerning the person, she merely said that he was a Russian.

That was all that I wanted to know. Being near supper time, I took leave of the handsome brunette and strolled over to my restaurant in the Boulevard and afterwards dropped into the Cafe Parisian where I met some old friends, and someone being always ready to play backgammon, we were soon deeply engaged in a game.

It lasted until nine o'clock, when after a few minutes walk on the Boulevard, I returned to the Hotel X. The company was numerous although there was no particular reason for it, and I was soon quite at home with the joyous band. It is true that I often gave the signal for the craziest games and this was perhaps the reason for its popularity.