"No. Of course I don't mean that! What a horrible idea! But, Jane, there is a chance that I may become free. It is difficult to explain, but you may believe me when I tell you that if Richard were a different kind of man, if he was noble, if he was high-minded, as you are noble and high-minded----" Jane shook her head. "Yes, you are--you are----What was I saying? Yes: if Richard were different he could have given me my freedom long ago, and our marriage could be dissolved even now." As the younger woman made no movement, said no word, only went on looking at her in puzzled silence, Athena drew herself out of Jane's arms, and there came a look of impatience over her face. "You are not a child! Surely you know what I mean, Jane? You must have heard of marriages being annulled? Richard has kept me tied to him all these years--years that I might have been free." And, again, the strange thing was that Athena Maule, as she said those words, believed them--with certain mental reservations--to be true. It was certainly true that for the last eight years she, a passionate, living woman, had been tied to death in life. She would have been shocked, angered, had any still small voice reminded her that the scheme she was now determined to carry through was a new scheme, one that she had never considered seriously till now, though she had told the lie which was the keystone of her scheme so often that she had at last begun to believe it must be true. "Oh, Jane!" she cried, and then she slipped off the bed and threw herself on her knees. "Oh, Jane, there is only one person in the world to whom Richard will ever listen----No, I'm wrong--there are two--there's Dick as well as you. But Dick"--a look of hatred for a moment convulsed her face--"Dick loathes me," she said slowly, "even more than Richard does," and this was true. "You, Jane, are my only hope--mine and Hew's only hope----" "Do you mean," said Jane slowly, "that you want me to speak to Richard, Athena,--to suggest his taking this step?" For the first time Jane Oglander felt a touch of physical repulsion from Athena. It was a curious sensation, and one which troubled her exceedingly. "Richard would have to do nothing--nothing! Simply leave my suit undefended. And if you could bring yourself to speak to him, Jane, I honestly believe that he might do now what he ought to have done long ago--release me. Nothing can give me back the years--the long miserable years I have spent with him, but I should at least have the future----" She looked furtively at Jane. It would be so much more--well, comfortable, if she and Lingard could count on Jane's approval, on her blessing, as it were. Jane Oglander lay back and turned her face away, to the wall. Athena, with remarkable self-control, stilled her eager, impulsive tongue. But the moments of waiting seemed very long.