ible. Of course, after your kindness, I shall let the
suit go undefended."

Olive searched the bandaged face of her rival with merciless scrutiny.
But the blinded girl seemed unconscious of that look of stabbing hatred
and suspicion. She was apparently smiling happily--weaving day-dreams.
Her hand went out to the vase of white lilac caressingly.

For that was the part Elaine had set herself to play for the sake of the
man she loved. He had been beaten down to his knees by Larssen and Olive
in the shipowner's office because he had had Elaine to protect. To save
her from the mire of the divorce court he had had to give in and sign at
Larssen's dictation.

Now she was determined to release him for free action. Whatever it might
cost her in self-respect, she was going to make Olive believe that a
divorce suit was the one thing she most ardently desired.

"I shall let the divorce suit go undefended," she had said, smiling
happily.

Olive made a decisive effort to regain the whip-hand. "Divorce by
collusion is out of the question!" she retorted sharply. "The King's
Proctor sees to that. You don't imagine that it's sufficient merely to
say you don't defend the suit? There must be evidence before the Court."

Elaine bowed her head.

"There is evidence," she said in a low voice.

"At Arles, Nimes, or here?"

"At Nimes."

"Then my husband lied to me! He swore to me on his word of honour that
there was nothing between you!"

"John is very chivalrous."

"You tell me he lied?"

"I don't know just what he said to you.... And I want you to realise
this: the fault was on my side. I loved him. I love him still. I shall
love him always. Always, whatever happens."

Then she added, because in the playing of her part she had determined to
spare herself no degradation: "I care nothing for what people say. They
may sneer and point at me, but nothing shall keep us apart."

Olive went chalk-white with anger. She had not travelled the long
journey to Wiesbaden to be fooled in this way. The ground had been cut
from under her feet by Elaine's most unexpected attitude, and the
situation needed some drastic counter-move on her part.

"A pretty story!" she retorted. "If you imagine your childish bluffing
would deceive me, you've a lot to learn yet! Clifford was not lying, and
you are! That's the long and short of it!"

"Then call him here and ask him before me!"

Olive saw her opportunity. She could find out Riviere's address f