e never been
tempted, when, perhaps, under the same circumstances, we might act no
better ourselves. For my part I think the husband is probably as much at
fault as the wife."

Marion felt her heart leap with gratitude when she heard these words.
Her husband's voice had softened as he spoke them, and his eyes wore a
sad, thoughtful expression.

"I don't think you are right," said Duncan, draining a glass of claret.
"No one but a fool will permit a woman to go astray under his eyes, and
a fool deserves to lose his wife."

As he spoke these words he looked toward Marion with an insinuating
expression which told her that his remark was directed at Roswell, and
that he expected her to appreciate the humor of it. Marion felt a sense
of thankfulness rise in her heart. Coarseness never could appeal to her
sensitive nature and she shuddered when she thought that this was the
man for whom she had been willing to risk her honor. She was beginning
to find him out. Thank heaven, the knowledge came before it was too
late.

Roswell was silent for a moment. Then he said, thoughtfully: "Any one of
us may be cast to play the role of fool. Unfortunately we never
recognize just when we begin to play the part. I used to think as you
do, Grahame. It is only lately I have begun to feel that it takes two to
create a difference. Perhaps I am wrong, but I believe that, had my
friend recognized sooner that his wife was made unhappy by his own
neglect and the surroundings in which he placed her, the danger might
have been averted."

For a while no one spoke. Marion gazed thoughtfully at the table; Duncan
twirled a glass carelessly between his fingers and a smile played on his
lips, while Roswell silently puffed his cigar and watched the blue
wreaths of smoke curl gently upward.

"Shall we go into the next room, my dear?" said Roswell after a moment,
dropping his half-finished cigar. "I have just time to catch my train."

"You are not going, are you?" said Marion, looking up, startled. "Please
put off your trip," she added with a slight tone of appeal in her voice.

"I must go," he answered, rising from his chair.

The three people walked toward the hall. As they reached the door,
Roswell stopped and motioned Duncan to lead the way. The younger man
passed out, leaving Marion and her husband together. Roswell took both
his wife's hands and drew her toward him.

"I must leave Grahame with you, my dear. Don't mind my running away. It
is