He did not reply directly, but glanced across her shoulder towards the yawning lieutenant. "Remember," he breathed significantly, and in his turn departed. Leah wondered that the feelings which had evoked the word should not have kept him watchful of her pretty play, and confessed herself puzzled by his abrupt following of Katinka's trail. But having, as she knew, aroused his jealousy, there was no need to consider meanings which would not affect her schemes. Aksakoff was due, and before he appeared it was necessary to teach Askew the rôle of cat's-paw. He was to decoy Demetrius to Paris, but of course, she did not mean him to be aware of his ignoble duties. She returned to rebuke him for yawning and to propose a remedy. "What you need is change of scene, if not of society. Now there is Paris, which you probably know well." "I do not know it at all," he confessed. "What a neglected education! I must teach you Paris. Will you be ready for your first lesson early next week?" "I do not quite understand." Lady Jim nodded laughingly. "Which proves that 'our future' is now split into 'your future' and 'my future.'" "I am more in the dark than ever," said the amazed listener. Lady Jim curled her lip contemptuously. "You men need so much explanation," said she; then, meaningly, "I can still retain you as a friend, I hope." "What do you--that is--on what grounds----? You do not comprehend!" He stuttered, grew red, and writhed over the fire on which she was grilling him, with much enjoyment to herself. "Ah, but I do comprehend--very clearly, too. When did the change come?" "The--change?" "Of heart, if you wish me to enter into details." "There is no change in me," he denied, still red and flurried. "And no truth either, when you make such a statement!" With a light laugh she recalled his fierce wooing: "you would not attempt to break my wrists now." "I am very, very sorry, that I was rough with yon." "Quite so, and cannot you see that such sorrow explains everything?" "Not to me," said Askew, desperately fervent. Leah clapped her hands gaily. "How very badly you do it! Do not go on the stage, I beg of you. Well!" she kissed her hand to him, "adieu! I hope she will be happy." "Who will be happy?" "The other woman." "There is no----" He caught her derisive eyes, and broke down with an uneasy laugh. "I suppose we have made a mistake." "_You_ have," she replied, promptly emphasising the pronoun. "Ah!" His pride was wounded by the implied indifference. "Then you knew it would come to this?" "Of course, because I did not choose that it should end otherwise. If I had chosen, you would still have been----" She glanced smilingly at her slim feet, then handled the teapot with ostentatious liveliness. "You can have some cold tea, if you like." As Askew had intended to drop her, the idea that she was dropping him--and very readily, too--was wounding to his vanity. "You never loved me," he declared. "Did I ever say that I did?"