though it had never been. The reason for it was gone. After a very
short period of mourning, I took up the quietness of a respectable
widow, who wished only to forget that she ever was married."

"I can understand exactly," said Harleston. "You shall never hear a word
from me to remind you."

"I've never heard anything to remind me of the past until this alluring
beauty's insinuations of a moment ago. That is why it hit me so hard,
Mr. Harleston. And why did she do it? Is she jealous of you, or of me,
or what?"

"She's not jealous of me!" he laughed. "I know her history; it's
something of a history, too.... Sometime I'll tell you all about it;
it's an interesting tale. Is it possible you've never heard in Paris of
Madeline Spencer?"

"Never!"

"Nor of the Duchess of Lotzen?"

"Great Heavens!" she cried. "Is she the Duchess of Lotzen?"

"The same," Harleston nodded.

"H-u-m! I can understand now a little of her--No wonder I felt my
helplessness before her polished poise!"

"Nonsense!" he smiled.