of protest.

"No, no, <i>no</i>! Of course he'd disapprove. But then--he soon forgives a
thing, if he thinks it clever. And it is clever, isn't it?--some of it.
He'd laugh--and then it would be all right. <i>He'd</i> never pay out his
enemies, but he couldn't help enjoying it if some one else did--could
he?" She pleaded like a child.

"'No need to forgive them,'" murmured Darrell, as he rolled over on his
back and put his hat over his eyes--"for you would have 'shot them
all.'"

Under the shelter of his hat he tried to think himself clear. What
<i>really</i> were her motives? Partly, no doubt, a childish love of
excitement--partly revenge? The animus against the Parhams was clear in
every page. Cliffe, too, came badly out of it--a fantastic Byronic
mixture of libertine and cad. Lady Kitty had better beware! As far as
he knew, Cliffe had never yet been struck, with impunity to the striker.

If these precious sheets ever appeared, Ashe's position would certainly
be shaken. Poor wretch!--endeavoring to pursue a serious existence,
yoked to such an impish sprite as this! His own fault, after all. That
first night, at Madame d'Estrees', was not her madness written in her
eyes?

"Now tell me, Lady Kitty"--he roused himself to look at her with some
attention--"what do you want me to do?"

"To find me a publisher, and"--she stooped towards him with a laughing
shyness--"to get me some money."

"Money!"

"I've been so awfully extravagant lately," said Kitty, frankly.
"Something really will have to be done. And the book's worth some money,
isn't it?"

"A good deal," said Darrell. Then he added, with emphasis--"I really
can't be responsible for it in any way, Lady Kitty."

"Of course not. I will never, <i>never</i> say I told you! But, you see, I'm
not literary--I don't know in the least how to set about it. If you
would just put me in communication?"

Darrell pondered. None of the well-known publishers, of course, would
look at it. But there were plenty of people who would--and give Lady
Kitty a large sum of money for it, too.

What part, however, could he--Darrell--play in such a transaction?

"I am bound to warn you," he said, at last, looking up, "that your
husband will probably strongly disapprove this book, and that it may do
him harm."

Kitty bit her lip.

"But if I tell nobody who wrote it--and you tell nobody?"

"Ashe would know at once. Everybody would know."

"William would know," his companion adm