A shrug ended this speech, and this, in conjunction with the anger brightening her hard blue eyes, reduced him to profuse apologies. "But indeed, my soul, you should not be enraged; that I should risk what I do risk surely proves my love for you." "You have proved it before by getting me the insurance money," she replied impatiently; "pray return at once. I can see you in Curzon Street when I return on Tuesday." "Then you promise to marry me." "Yes!" Leah heaved a sigh of exhaustion. "How often do you wish me to say so? Even if you remain Dr. Demetrius I am bound to become your wife, seeing that you hold my reputation in your hands. Though of course," she added sweetly, "I expect to be Princess Constantine Demetrius." "I am willing--believe me, I am willing," he stuttered, now quite positive that Mrs. Penworthy was a liar of the worst. "Aksakoff----" "What of him?" "Did you not say that he would aid me to regain my position, if I gave up Katinka?" "He said something like that," she rejoined carelessly, and wondering why at this moment he recalled the proposition. "But I rather fancy his offer was merely to leave you alone." Demetrius looked silently at the carpet. Leah watched him with a doubtful look, on her guard against complications. He looked up suddenly, and with rather a shamed face. "Certainly I could secure the services of Mademoiselle Aksakoff," he murmured; "but it seems cruel to use her influence and then to leave her. She loves me. Ah, yes, she loves me very truly, and I--I treat her most badly." "If you think so, why not make amends and marry her?" "Because I love you, and at great risk I have bought you." He glared at her savagely. "I refuse to let you go; you are mine--mine." "I never denied that," said Lady Jim, dryly; "but I really cannot accompany you to Siberia, and if you remain here----" "Wait!" He flung up an imperative hand. "I shall see Aksakoff." This sounded almost too good to be true, and Leah doubted. "No!" "Yes. Ah, my adored, I know how you feel for my safety"; his voice took on a caressing tone. "But--it is nothing"; he brushed away imaginary danger with a rapid gesture. "I shall see him. I shall plainly surrender Katinka, and then--then, when he knows that we--you and I--are to marry, he will interest himself with the Czar, on our--you mark me, my angel--on our behalf." "It's a mad idea, impracticable. You dare not trust Aksakoff." "Ah, bah! He will not arrest me publicly--he cannot. The scandal--the diplomatic storm--the newspapers. No, no!--it is too absurd. Besides"--he shrugged--"this tender father will repay me if I give his daughter to understand that we can never marry. He desires her to be the Countess Paul Petrovitch." "Hum!" said Lady Jim, rejoicing that the prisoner should thus lock himself in and pitch the key out of the window. "M. Aksakoff hinted something of this to me at Monte Carlo."