sessed by one idea,
and she felt her task had vast difficulty. That Carnac should have
married the girl was incredible, that he had played an unworthy part
seemed sure; yet it was in keeping with his past temperament. The girl
was the extreme contrast of himself, with dark--almost piercing-eyes,
and a paleness which was physically constitutional--the joy of the
artistic spirit. It was the head of a tragedienne or a martyr, and the
lean, rather beautiful body was eloquent of life.

Presently Junia said: "To try to spoil him would be a crime against his
country, and I shall tell him you are here."

"He'll do nothing at all." The French girl's words were suddenly biting,
malicious and defiant. The moment's softness she had felt was gone, and
hardness returned. "If he hasn't moved against me since he married me,
he wouldn't dare do so now."

"Why hasn't he moved? Because you're a woman, and also he'd believe
you'd repent of your conduct. But I believe he will act sternly against
you at once. There is much at stake."

"You want it for your own sake," said Luzanne sharply. "You think he'd
marry you if I gave him up."

"Perhaps he'd ask me to marry him, if you weren't in the way, but I'd
have my own mind about that, and knowing what you've told me--truth or
lie--I'd weigh it all carefully. Besides, he's not the only man. Doesn't
that ever strike you? Why try to hold him by a spurious bond when there
are other men as good-looking, as clever? Is your world so bare of
men--no, I'm sure it isn't," she added, for she saw anger rising in the
impulsive girl. "There are many who'd want to marry you, and it's better
to marry some one who loves you than to hold to one who doesn't love you
at all. Is it hate? He saved your life--and that's how you came to know
him first, and now you would destroy him! He's a great man. He would
not bend to his father's will, and so he was left without a sou of his
father's money. All because he has a conscience, and an independence
worthy of the best that ever lived.... That's the soul of the man you
are trying to hurt. If you had a real soul, there wouldn't be even the
thought of this crime. Do you think he wouldn't loathe you, if you do
this ghastly thing? Would any real man endure it for an hour? What do
you expect to get but ugly revenge on a man who never gave anything
except friendship?"

"Friendship--friendship-yes, he gave that, but emotion too."

"You think that real men marry women for