er which Millar had
tricked her into writing. She meant to tell him to go away; to end
everything between them. But, although she did not know it, she was
blindly obeying the evil will of Millar.

Broad, glaring daylight had come when Heinrich entered the
reception-room of the studio. He divined no presence. There were no
conflicting passions in his old heart. He pottered about, humming an old
song to himself, dusting the vases and paintings, stirring the
slumbering fire, until the door bell rang.

He admitted to the anteroom a beautiful young woman whom he had never
seen before. When he returned to the reception-room to ruminate on the
situation he was confronted by the figure of Millar--the figure of the
devil.

"I--I beg your pardon; I did not know you were here," he said.

"I am here," Millar responded cheerfully. "Who rang?"

"A lady, sir."

"A real lady?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"That's odd. What does she want?"

"She wants to see my master, sir, Mr. Karl."

Heinrich hurried out and ushered in Elsa. The poor little girl had lost
her bravado of the night before. She was ready to humble herself. She
was stricken with the terrible malady. She was in love; she
acknowledged it to herself, and she knew that the man she loved had his
heart elsewhere. But she had resolved to make a fight--to win him if she
could, and she had taken this desperate move.

She was startled, though, when she was ushered into the reception-room
and saw Millar there, his hands on his breast, bowing profoundly.

"You seem to be everywhere," she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?
Are you Karl's secretary?"

Millar was transformed back into his frock coat, his immaculate
trousers, his wine-colored waistcoat. He was again the polished, suave,
affable gentleman of the afternoon, with ingratiating manner, cynical
smile and insinuating words.

"No, I am not Karl's servant; only his friend," he said. "How are you
feeling to-day?"

"Oh, very well, thank you. I did not know there was any one in here or I
should have waited outside. But as it is only you I do not mind."

She resented the presence of this man in the place, and she took a seat,
turning her back to him. Millar, not in the least disturbed, said:

"Karl got in very late this morning."

"I assume that he did; it was very late when the ball ended."

"Still, I think he would be very much pleased to know that you are here.
Will you permit me to acquaint him of the pleasure that