s."

"That is a matter of opinion. Some might think otherwise. Of course,
it is difficult for a woman when she is blinded by love----"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that your husband is far from being the conservative,
afraid-to-take-risks type of man you picture him. You women think you
know your husbands. You know only such part of them as they themselves
care to reveal. Perhaps if you knew to what extent your husband was
involved in Wall Street, it would surprise you! Oh, everything is
perfectly regular, of course. As treasurer of the Americo-African
Mining Company, he has at his disposal large sums of money. He is also
trustee of several large and valuable estates. All of this money he is
supposed to invest--conservatively. He certainly invests it. Whether
conservatively or not, I leave others to judge."

"Do you mean that he is using other people's money in Wall Street?"

"I mean, my dear lady, that he has the get-rich-quick fever. He has a
rage for stock gambling--he is already heavily involved. I have often
warned him to go slower, to be more prudent, but he won't heed my
counsel. You know, he is very headstrong--your husband. As long as
everything goes well he is all right. If anything goes wrong, he might
find himself in an unpleasant predicament. Hasn't he spoken to you of
these matters? Why should he worry you? It is as I told you.
Husbands don't tell their wives everything--God forbid!"

Helen raised her hand. There was the ring of scorn in her voice as she
exclaimed:

"Don't blaspheme, Signor Keralio. It sounds incongruous to hear the
name of the Almighty on the lips of a man of your opinions and tastes.
You think you live, but you don't. You go through life, seeking only
to gratify your appetites, attracted only by material sensual
pleasures. You ignore the best part of life--the pursuit of an ideal,
a noble ambition, unselfishness, self-sacrifice. Really, Signor, I
pity you--with all my heart."

He made no answer, but sat in silence watching her. Presently he said:

"Mrs. Traynor--do you know that you are an extraordinary woman?"

"In what way?" she demanded, elevating her eyebrows in surprise.

"You are either the cleverest or the most unsophisticated woman I have
ever met. You are attractive enough to send a saint to perdition, yet
you are quite indifferent to the power of your beauty and the tumult it
arouses in the men who chance to cross your path. You seem to b