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pilot striding out of the elevator, leather helmet and goggles still on, beaded with dew. Everyone watched, wondering if this could be the same lunatic who’d nearly berthed his ornithopter in the restaurant.
    I swallowed, for it seemed he was headed straight for my table.
    He pulled off his helmet and a mass of dark auburn hair spilled out. Off came the goggles, and I was looking at the beaming face of Kate de Vries. I could not speak.
    “Hello!” she said brightly.
    “That was you?” I managed to say.
    “You’re not the only one who can fly now, Mr. Cruse.”
    “When did this happen?”
    “I’ve been taking lessons in my spare time.”
    “It’s incredible! That was quite a fancy trick at the window.”
    “Oh, that. I was completely out of control. I’m amazed I didn’t smash myself to bits. Champagne! What a brilliant idea!”
    Her legs were shaking, and she sat down. Her eyes were rimmed red from the goggles. I poured her a glass of champagne, and she drained it in two or three swallows.
    “Ah, that’s better.” She looked at the label. “Good heavens, this is awfully fancy.”
    “It’s nothing,” I said.
    “Well, it’s my treat.”
    “It’s on me today.”
    “Gosh, certainly not. I invited you!”
    “I insist.”
    She lowered her voice. “You have seen the prices, haven’t you?”
    I shrugged with supreme indifference.
    “Well, thank you very much. They might have given us a better view,” she said, frowning at the great elevator wheel at our window.
    “I was rather enjoying it,” I said defensively.
    “Boys like mechanical things, don’t they.”
    “Gears and cables and wheels. That’s all we can cram into our tiny little brains. I can’t believe you’re a pilot now!”
    “I prefer the word aviatrix. It has more zing to it.”
    “It’s very zingy,” I agreed.
    “Anyway, that’s why I picked the Jewels Verne. I was hoping you’d see me as I came in to land. You did see me, didn’t you?”
    “Everyone did. You caused quite a stir.”
    “Those trapeze landings are very tricky, you know!”
    “I can imagine.”
    “Are you impressed?” she asked.
    “Very.”
    Though, truth be told, I didn’t know exactly how I felt. Flying wasn’t just a hobby for me, it was something personal, all wound up in my bones and veins. It was my thing, and I wasn’t at all sure I liked sharing it with Kate. Especially since she was brilliant at so many other things.
    “I just thought it might come in handy,” Kate said. “Seeing as I intend to lead a life of dazzling adventure.”
    “When did you manage to take lessons?” I asked her.
    “Well, I have no classes at the Sorbonne on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so I thought I’d put the time to good use.”
    “Who’s been teaching you?” I demanded, suddenly suspicious.
    “A charming young gentleman called Philippe, as it turns out.”
    “Oh, really?”
    “Yes. He’s an instructor at a small flight school in the Bois de Boulogne. He had impeccable references, I might add.And he’s so kind. He’s offered to give me some extra lessons for half his usual price.”
    “I’m sure he has.” I didn’t like this at all. This Philippe had probably seen more of her than I had over the past few months.
    “I guess Miss Simpkins was there the whole time,” I said hopefully.
    “Fortunately, these ornithopters only seat two. Marjorie had to wait in the lounge, which was quite all right by her.” I couldn’t imagine that Kate’s parents approved of her learning to fly, and said so.
    Kate gave a Mona Lisa smile.
    “Ah,” I said, “of course. They don’t know. But didn’t Miss Simpkins tell them?”
    “Marjorie and I have a wonderful arrangement now,” Kate said, unable to hide her delight. “A while back she had a bit of a romance. With a real bounder actually.”
    “A bounder?”
    “Yes, one who bounds. Away. A rascal, you know. But Marjorie fancied him, and they had a bit of a fling. Anyway, I turned a blind eye to that, and