en. What object could she have in
meeting him?

"I want to judge for myself," she replied.

"Judge what? Surely not whether he is eligible as a husband!"

"Yes," she said.

"But, my dear Lola," I cried, "the notion is as crazy as any of
Anastasius Papadopoulos's. Of course, as soon as he learns that you're
a rich woman, he'll want to live with you, and use your money for his
gaming-hell."

"I am going to meet him," she said quietly.

"I forbid it."

"You're too late, dear friend. I wrote him a letter before dinner and
sent it to the Cercle Africain by special messenger. I also wrote to
Anastasius. I asked them both to see me to-morrow morning. That's why
I've been so gay this evening."

At the sight of my blank face she laughed, and with one of her movements
rose from her chair. I rose too.

"Are you angry with me?"

"I thought I had walked out of a nightmare," I said. "I find I'm still
in it."

"But don't be angry with me. It was the only way."

"The only way to, or out of, what?" I asked, bewildered.

"Never mind."

She looked at me with a singular expression in her slumbrous eyes. It
was sad, wistful, soothing, and gave me the idea of a noble woman making
a senseless sacrifice.

"There is no earthly reason to do this on account of Dale," I protested.

"Dale has nothing to do with it."

"Then who has?"

"Anastasius Papadopoulos," she said with undisguised irony.

"I beg your pardon," I said rather stiffly, "for appearing to force your
confidence. But as I first put the idea of joining your husband into
your head and have enjoyed your confidence in the matter hitherto, I
thought I might claim certain privileges."

As she had done before, she laid her hands on my shoulders--we were
alone in the alcove--and looked me in the eyes.

"Don't make me cry. I'm very near it. And I'm tired to-night, and
I'm going to have a hellish time to-morrow. And I want you to do me a
favour."

"What is that?"

"When I'm seeing my husband, I'd like to know that you were within
call--in case I wanted you. One never knows what may happen. You will
come won't you, if I send for you?"

"I'm always at your service," I said.

She released my shoulders and grasped my hand.

"Good-night," she said, abruptly, and rushed swiftly out of the room,
leaving me wondering more than I had ever wondered in my life at the
inscrutable ways of women.

CHAPTER XIV

I am glad I devoted last night and the past hour this m