way to Rosa. It did not occur to me at the time, but it occurred to me afterwards, that I was extremely anxious to see her again.

Everyone who has been to Bruges knows the H�tel du Commerce. It is the Ritz of Bruges, and very well aware of its own importance in the scheme of things. As I entered the courtyard a waiter came up to me.

“Excuse me, monsieur, but we have no rooms.”

“Why do you tell me that?”

“Pardon. I thought monsieur wanted a room. Mademoiselle Rosa, the great diva, is staying here, and all the English from the H�tel du Panier d’Or have left there in order to be in the same hotel with Mademoiselle Rosa.”

Somewhere behind that mask