By Wit of Woman

ormal glance at me as Madame d'Artelle mentioned my name, and his eyes came toward me again when she explained that I was an American. I was

the pages of my book, observing him, trying to analyze my own feelings, an

that this was all for the best; that it made everything easier for me; that I had no right to care five cents whether he knew me or not; and

I piled epithet upon epithet in indignant condemnation of him until my old contempt quickened into hot and fierce hatr

otions. I could obey only one guide-my judgment. Here was the man who of all others would be able by and by to he

h to save him of all men from ruin; but I never break my head against Fate's decrees

k. His face was lined; his features heavy, his eyes dull and spiritless, and his air listless and almost preoccupied. He smil

hen her back was toward him I saw him look round swiftly and stealthily and po

to give him the opportunity to do this; for I saw that she watched him in a mirror, and wa

or were due to the fact that the previous dose was wearing off;

changed, he commenced to talk briskly, and his spirits rose fast. I feared that under t

y voice-the most tell-tale of all things in a woman-but n

s out of the room. I had accomplished two things. I had let him familiarize himself with the sight of me without associating me wit

did. Yet if so, why seek to weaken his mind as well as destroy his reputation? I thought this over carefully and could see but one answ

surprise. I found Madame d'Artelle plunged apparently in the deepe

th sparse sympathy. "Don't cry. T

rable woman in the

don't suit you, either. They make your eyes red and puffy

grily; and immediately dried her

stopped your cry

to be

l to me. Look at yourself;" and I hel

lung it down on the sofa pill

ns a year's ill luck. A serious mi

n of sympathy in your whole hear

th sympathy or any other emotion. It is just the b

me your science,"

ings, and now that I have brought you out of the tear stage, we'll talk about them i

she turned to me swiftly. "What do you

ere thinking about when the passion of tears c

leaves as I put the question. She jumped up excitedly and came and

You shall say what

f wild glare in your eyes. I don't think it's fair to b

me in her exasperation. Then she laughed, a litt

in my thou

of your religious convictions as a

laugh died away her eyes filled with sobering perplexity. "At the foundation," she said

oked at her fixedly as I spoke. "Of your marriage with M.

esh excitement, almost with fury indeed.

urging you to marry

he last vestige of her self-control w

my book, having carefully laid a marker between the pages, and looked round as if for anyth

e in about an hour, Madame," I said

se to it. "What ar

hich I contrived to convey a thr

ry, over-teased child will do. "You shall not go. You mean to try and ruin me." I

mly and looked her so firmly in the face

what I said,"

and disbelief. She had very little courage and was a poor fighter. He

t go. Forgive me, Christabel. I didn't mean it. I swear I

u should plead thu

u are not a spy. Don't make so much of an angry word. Come, let us talk

with obvious reluctance. "Why a

you; but I want you

willing to talk things over; and she sat near me, ta

erstood one another. Perhaps I had bet

him, Chr

r Constans-y

ain, a false scoundrel. Don't speak of him

ame." She moaned and wav

tched woman on ear

um. I do not understand that kind of lov

God, you don't understand at all. The only

hat is forci

t were a lancet thrust. "You fright

You have an object which I can see plainly. You have been brought here to involve Count Karl in a way which threatens him with ruin, and you have fallen in love with him-or think you have. You are now anxious

she exclaimed under her breath, he

l alive. To yourself you would justify this by the pretence that if you were once the Count's wife you could check ins

outhed. Suddenly she changed, and her look grew fierce and tense. "W

keep them in good condition. But I am not forcing myself upon you. I am ready to go

ieve I am really

hat fear due weight. You have been already induced to make one very fool

e you sa

the secret drawer in the old bureau in your boudoir, and I saw them

ate as well as fear was in her ey

imagination,"

mil

-if you wish. It is

do you

begin by telling me what and whose

errupted us a

unt Gustav is aski

start, and flas

to him," sh

tuition then. I

dame. I will see you afterwards; and will use the interval to have my

he cried, with another burst of

s I reache

y, Madame, and wish to see m

without waitin