hould like to know, if
I thought you would answer frankly."

"Try me and see."

"Then why are you Mrs. Dupont, instead of Mrs. Le Fevre?"

"Then my guess is true, and you are not so devoid of curiosity," she
laughed. "My answer? Why, it is simplicity itself--because I was
never Mrs. Le Fevre, but am rightfully Mrs. Dupont."

"Do you mean you were never married to Le Fevre?"

"What else could I mean?"

"Then he lied."

She shrugged her white shoulders.

"That would not surprise me in the least. 'T was a characteristic of
the man you had ample reason to know. How came you to believe so
easily?"

"Believe? What else could I believe? Everything served to
substantiate his boast. I was in disgrace, practically drummed out of
camp. There was nothing left for me to live for, or strive after. I
was practically dead. Then your letter confessing came--"

"Wait," she interrupted, "that letter was untrue, false; it was penned
under compulsion. I wrote you again, later, but you had gone,
disappeared utterly. I wanted to explain, but your own people even did
not know where you were--do not know yet."

He leaned his body against the rail, and looked at her in the dim
light. Her face retained much of its girlish attractiveness, yet its
undoubted charms no longer held the man captive. He smiled coldly.

"The explanation comes somewhat late," he replied deliberately. "When
it might have served me it was not offered--indeed, you had
conveniently disappeared. But I am not here to criticise; that is all
over with, practically forgotten. I came at your request, and presume
you had a reason. May I again ask what it was?"

CHAPTER XVII

AT CROSS-PURPOSES

She sat for a moment silent, gazing up the street, but breathing
heavily. This was not the reception she had anticipated, and it was
difficult to determine swiftly what course she had best pursue.
Realizing the hold she had once had upon this man, it had never
occurred to her mind that her influence had altogether departed. Her
beauty had never failed before to win such victory, and she had trusted
now in reviving the old smouldering passion into sudden flame. Yet
already she comprehended the utter uselessness of such an
expectation--there was no smouldering passion to be fanned; his
indifference was not assumed. The discovery angered her, but long
experience had brought control; it required only a moment to readjust
her faculties, to keep the b