The Other Side of Midnight

She hesitated. "Could you recommend a nice inexpensive hotel?"

The driver swung around to stare at her appraisingly. "You're new in town?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "You'll be needing a job, I suppose."

"Yes."

"You're in luck," he said. "Have you ever done any modeling?"

Noelle's heart leaped. "As a matter of fact, I have," she said.

"My sister works for one of the big fashion houses," the driver confided. "Just this morning she mentioned that one of the girls quit. Would you like to see if the vacancy is still open?"

"That would be wonderful," Noelle replied.

"If I take you there, it will cost you ten francs."

She frowned.

"It will be worth it," he promised.

"All right." She leaned back in the seat. The driver put the taxi in gear and joined the maniacal traffic heading toward the center of town. The driver

chattered as they drove, but Noelle did not hear a word he said. She was drinking in the sights of her city. She supposed that because of the blackout, Paris was more subdued than usual, but to Noelle it seemed a city of pure magic. It had an elegance, a style, even an aroma all its own. They passed Notre Dame and crossed the Pont Neuf to the Right Bank and swung toward Marshall Foch Boulevard. In the distance Noelle could see the Eiffel Tower, dominating the city. Through the rearview mirror, the driver saw the expression on her face.

"Nice, huh?"

"It's beautiful," Noelle answered quietly. She still could not believe she was here. It was a Kingdom fit for a Princess...for her.

The taxi pulled up in front of a dark, gray stone building on the rue de Provence.

"We're here," the driver announced. "That's two francs on the meter and ten francs for me."

"How do I know the job will still be open?" Noelle asked.

The driver shrugged. "I told you, the girl just left this morning. If you don't want to go in, I'll take you back to the station."

"No," Noelle said quickly. She opened her purse, took out twelve francs and handed them to the driver. He stared at the money, then looked at her. Embarrassed, she reached into her purse and handed him another franc.

He nodded, unsmiling, and watched her lift her suitcase out of the taxi.

As he started to drive away, Noelle asked, "What's your sister's name?"

"Jeanette."

Noelle stood on the curb watching the taxi disappear, then turned to look at the building. There was no identifying sign in front, but she supposed that a fashionable dress house did not need a sign. Everyone would know where to find it. She picked up her suitcase, went up to the door and rang the bell. A few moments later the door was opened by a maid wearing a black apron. She looked at Noelle blankly.

"Yes?"

"Excuse me," Noelle said. "I understand that there is an opening for a model."

The woman stared at her and blinked.

"Who sent you?"

"Jeanette's brother."