ddenly in the princess's face, one day in Petersburg--a sort
of revelation. I read it there, and she saw me reading. I should have
liked to keep it from you, for your sake as well as for hers. Our daily
life is made possible only by the fact that we know so little of our
neighbors. There are many things of which we are better ignorant right
up to the end. This might have been one of them. But De Chauxville found
it out, and it is better that I should tell you than he."

Paul did not look around. The wolf-hound was still barking at its own
echo--a favorite pastime of those who make a great local stir in the
world.

"Of course," said Paul, after a long pause, "I have been a great fool. I
know that. But--"

He turned and looked at Steinmetz with haggard eyes.

"But I would rather go on being a fool than suspect any one of a
deception like this."

Steinmetz was still making patterns on the blotting-pad.

"It is difficult for us men," he said slowly, "to look at these things
from a woman's point of view. They hold a different sense of honor from
ours--especially if they are beautiful. And the fault is
ours--especially toward the beautiful ones. There may have been
temptations of which we are ignorant."

Paul was still looking at him. Steinmetz looked up slowly, and saw that
he had grown ten years older in the last few minutes. He did not look at
him for more than a second, because the sight of Paul's face hurt him.
But he saw in that moment that Paul did not understand. This strong man,
hard in his youthful strength of limb and purpose, would be just, but
nothing more. And between man and man it is not always justice that is
required. Between man and woman justice rarely meets the difficulty.

"Comprendre c'est pardonner," quoted Steinmetz vaguely.

He hesitated to interfere between Paul and his wife. Axioms are made for
crucial moments. A man's life has been steered by a proverb before this.
Some, who have no religion, steer by them all the voyage.

Paul walked slowly to the chair he usually occupied, opposite to
Steinmetz, at the writing-table. He walked and sat down as if he had
travelled a long distance.

"What is to be done?" asked Steinmetz.

"I do not know. I do not think that it matters much. What do you
recommend?"

"There is so much to be done," answered Steinmetz, "that it is difficult
to know what to do first. We must not forget that De Chauxville is
furious. He will do all the harm of which he is