at cloak."

"I will not."

"By heavens, I'll tear it off," he cried furiously, rushing at her.

Olga stood unmoved. Millar caught Karl by the arm and stopped him.

"Why did you stop him?" Olga asked, smiling.

She was perfectly self-possessed now and in command of the situation.
Millar was frankly afraid that she had taken his meaning literally. Karl
was mad with rage and jealousy. Olga was unruffled.

"Madam, I was afraid," Millar said.

"You will take it off," Karl cried, still held back by Millar. "If you
do not, I'll find your husband and he shall have the pleasure."

Olga turned to him sweetly.

"Karl, will you help me off with my cloak?" she asked.

Karl almost leaped toward her, but when his hands nearly touched her
cloak he drew back, afraid. Slowly he backed away from her, while she
smiled.

"Dr. Millar, will you help me remove my cloak?" she asked sweetly.

Millar put out his hands as if to do so, but quickly folded them over
his breast, bowed very low and smiled, cynically shaking his head.

Olga looked first at one and then the other with her tantalizing smile.
The three might have been carved of stone, so still were they when
Herman entered.

"Hello, Karl; I lost you when I went to find Elsa," he said. "What are
you talking about?"

"I think we have been discussing cloaks," Millar said.

"Oh, I see Olga is wearing one. Isn't it rather warm for that, dear?"

"Yes, it is, but I felt chilly a while ago," Olga answered. "Will you
help me off with it, Herman?"

Herman stepped to her side as she loosened the clasps, and lifted the
beautiful fur-lined garment from her shoulders. She stood before them
again in the beauty of her shimmering evening gown, her white arms and
shoulders gleaming, her lips parted in a dazzling smile.

Karl did not speak. He half involuntarily made a step toward Olga, and
she, fearing what he might say, cried lightly:

"Now, I have devoted too much time to you two. My guests are departing.
I must go. Come, Herman."

CHAPTER X

Herman took his wife's arm, and together they returned to the ballroom.
Karl watched them disappear and turned on Millar as if to attack him.
There was such menace in his manner, the frenzied appearance of his
face, that Millar put his hand behind him quickly and half drew his
revolver.

Before either spoke, however, Elsa entered from the ballroom. She was in
her cloak, ready to leave, and said, holding out her hand to Karl:

"I