by
inadvertence. But it isn't likely to do so in this instance--at least
not to George. He's an excellent shot--and I believe it was to be
pistols."

"Then it's true! Oh, my God, I know I shall lose him!"

Mrs. Eveleth flung her cane to the floor and dropped into a seat,
leaning on the table and covering her face with her hands. For a minute
she moaned harshly, but when she looked up her eyes were tearless.

"And this is my reward," she cried, "for the kindness I've shown you!
After all, you are nothing but a wanton."

Diane kept her self-control, but she grew pale.

"That's odd," was all she permitted herself to say, delicately flicking
the crumbs from her fingertips; "because it was to prove the contrary
that George called Monsieur de Bienville out."

"Bienville! You've stooped to _him?_"

"Did I say so?" Diane asked, with a sudden significant lifting of the
head.

"There's no need to say so. There must have been something--"

"There was something--something Monsieur de Bienville invented."

"Wasn't it a pity for him to go to the trouble of invention--?"

"When he could have found so much that was true," Diane finished, with
dangerous quietness. "That's what you were going to say, isn't it?"

"You have no right to ascribe words to me that I haven't uttered. I
never said so."

"No; that's true; I prefer to say it for you. It's safer, in that it
leaves me nothing to resent."

"Oh, what shall I do! What shall I do!" Mrs. Eveleth moaned, wringing
her hands. "My boy is gone from me. He will never come back. I've always
been sure that if he ever did this, it would be the end. It's my fault
for having brought him up among your foolish, hot-headed people. He will
have thrown his life away--and for nothing!"

"No; not that," Diane corrected; "not even if the worst comes to the
worst."

"What do you mean? If the worst comes to the worst, he will have
sacrificed himself--"

"For my honor; and George himself would be the first to tell you that
it's worth dying for."

Diane rose as she spoke, Mrs. Eveleth following her example. For a brief
instant they stood as if measuring each other's strength, till they
started with a simultaneous shock at the sharp call of the telephone
from an adjoining room. With a smothered cry Diane sprang to answer it,
while Mrs. Eveleth, helpless with dread, remained standing, as though
frozen to the spot.

"Oui--oui--oui," came Diane's voice, speaking eagerly. "Oui, c'est bien