ng into his eyes.

"I am annoyed. Do you want to know why?" he demanded, putting all the
insolence he could command into his tone.

"No," Millar replied with a smile.

"I want to tell you why," Karl declared.

"Please don't," Millar said deprecatingly.

"Yes, I will," Karl went on belligerently. "I am amazed at the change
which has come over you since this afternoon. Don't imagine that it is
on account of Olga--we won't discuss her at all."

"Certainly not; she is out of the question," Millar assented warmly.

"Absolutely," Karl went on. "I came here this evening determined to ask
Elsa to marry me."

"Fine! I am very glad to hear it. I wish you good luck, my boy!" Millar
cried with enthusiasm.

"You are glad?"

"Delighted," Millar assured him.

"It does not take you long to change your mind," Karl continued, still
with a truculent air. "This afternoon you insisted I should not marry
Elsa. To-night you are delighted at the prospect."

"Oh, yes; I see the matter now in a different light."

"Then it was Olga who ran away as I entered!" Karl almost shouted,
glaring at him menacingly.

"Ran away? Why should she run away?" Millar asked, pretending
embarrassment.

"Don't act like a cad!" Karl cried threateningly.

"What do you mean, Karl?"

"I mean exactly what I say. Don't act like a cad. If you were a
gentleman you would hide your pleasure."

Millar pretended to be shocked at the indignation of the young artist,
which secretly delighted him.

"Don't talk that way, Karl," he urged. "As you seem to have penetrated
my secret, I suppose I might as well--but have you made up your mind to
marry Elsa?"

"Absolutely."

"And you will not change your mind--you promise?"

"I will not change my mind."

"Well, of course, if that is the case, I can tell you. I----"

He hesitated as if embarrassed at his own question. Karl cried roughly:

"And did you succeed?"

"Well, I----"

"What of her husband?"

"Ah, Karl, he is deaf, dumb and blind," Millar cried gleefully.

Stifled with the pain at his heart, Karl turned away.

"This afternoon, at my house, you met her for the first time," he said.

"Ah, Karl, she is a clever woman; cleverer than I thought," Millar said,
affecting tremendous enthusiasm. "She deceived me this afternoon about
her true character; she has been deceiving all of you. I am sure of it.
Oh, she is grand, fantastic, passionate, daring. Think of it, Karl," he
went on, going close to th