of him. If the man made his exact
commission known it would cost me my place. The very people who would
applaud me if successful would be the first to make a scapegoat of me
otherwise."

"Your explanation is not quite lucid, but how could I get at the truth?"

"Ingratiate yourself with Miss Savine, or get that crack-brained aunt
of hers to cure your neuralgia. There are also two young premium
pupils, sons of leading Montreal citizens, in Mr. Savine's service, who
dance attendance upon the fair Helen continually. It shouldn't be
difficult to flatter them a little and set them talking."

"Do you think women are utterly foolish, or that they converse about
dams and earthworks?" asked Millicent, trying to check her rising
indignation.

"No, but I know a good many of you have the devil's own cunning, and
there can be but few much keener than you. Women in this country know
a great deal more about their lawful protectors' affairs than they
generally do at home, and Miss Savine is sufficiently proud not to care
whose wife you were if she took a fancy to you."

"It would be utterly useless!" Leslie looked his wife over with coolly
critical approval, noting how the soft lamplight sparkled in the pale
gold clusters of her hair, the beauty that still hung to her somewhat
careworn face, and how the costly dress enhanced the symmetry of a
finely-moulded frame.

"Then why can't you confine your efforts to the men? You are pretty
and clever enough to wheedle secrets out of Thurston's self even, now
you have apparently become reconciled to him."

For the first time since the revelations that followed Leslie's
downfall a red brand of shame and anger flamed in Millicent's cheeks.
She rose, facing the speaker with an almost breathless "How dare you?
Is there no limit to the price I must pay for my folly? Thurston
was----. But how could any woman compare him with you?"

"Sit down again, Millicent," suggested Leslie with an uneasy laugh.
"These heroics hardly become you--and nobody can extort a great deal in
return for--nothing better than you. In any case, it's no use now
debating whether one or both of us were foolish. I'm speaking no more
than the painful truth when I say that if I can't get the man back into
my hands I shall have to make a break without a dollar from British
Columbia. Since you have offended your English friends past
forgiveness, God knows what would become of you if that happened, while
Thurston