unshed tears, appealed to
him.

'It is not true?'

Elmur reflected that he had never before seen her look so pretty. Most
women with tears in their eyes repelled his fastidiousness, but this one
was delicious. He bent towards her and said as much with a fervour that
surprised her. She smiled tremulously. She had always considered the
wary German worth capturing, but he was an elusive bird. Admiration had
never before got the better of his self-possession; now for the first
time he appeared to be carried away by it. The keenness of conquest
thrilled her. Jack?--ah, yes, poor Jack! But he was practically lost to
her for ever. She sighed a little; she had been fond of Jack, but the
love that can stand against the inevitable was not hers. She reminded
herself that Jack had preferred Valerie--but, why, so had Elmur! A
temptation came to her; she glanced again at Elmur. He was personable
though advancing to middle age, and handsome as men go, though his eyes
were close-set and cunning. He was not like poor Jack--no, she would
never find anyone perhaps quite so good to look upon as Jack, with his
broad shoulders and corn-coloured hair, and those dear frank eyes! No,
but----

'Madame, what are you thinking of? I wish I dared flatter myself that I
could ever draw tears to those exquisite eyes,' Elmur said again with
warmth. He wanted excitement and Isolde was yielding. There are women
who will sacrifice the most sacred things, God's word itself, on the
altar of their vanity. Isolde withdrew her slight hand from his touch,
but it was the withdrawal that invites advance. She hesitated no longer.

'There are other eyes whose tears will be bitterer than mine; are you
not jealous of them? I am sorry for Captain Rallywood, of course, but
poor Valerie--what am I saying?'

'Whatever you say interests me,' he urged, his eyes following hers.

She pouted coquettishly.

'Yes, because I speak of Valerie!'

'No, it is because you speak!' he declared amorously. 'Tell me of
Mademoiselle Valerie if you will,' this as a concession, 'though you
could tell me something more interesting.'

'Not more interesting to you than this,' she exclaimed, nodding her
golden head at him with her little air of foolish wisdom. 'It is lucky
that Captain Rallywood is--is about to furnish an object-lesson,
for----' she raised her slender finger and laid it on her lips, smiling
at him.

He looked round. They were alone in a smaller drawing-room; it was