Out came her arms with a circular swing, and struck him fair across the eyes. "Jim doesn't know; Jim must never know." He was almost blinded, but persisted. "Leah, something must be done." Her voice sank, and with it her rage. "Something must be done," said she, faintly--"something shall be done, and--soon." "What do you mean?" he asked, half under his breath, and half catching at her intention. She took no notice. "Sit down, please!" said Leah, quietly, and Kaimes obeyed, since to summon assistance would only be to precipitate a still more dreadful scene. The Duchess looked into the mirror and arranged her hair; also she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, and smoothed her wrist-cuffs. When she did speak it was in the smooth voice of a society hostess asking a visitor if he took sugar in his tea. "I have made a fool of myself, Lionel. But you must admit that I am rather severely tried just now." "Oh, you poor soul!" His tone and look were pitiful. "Reserve your sympathy till you hear what I have to say. But first tell me honestly, can Christ cure me?" "Yes--if it is His Will." "Then let Him." "You must have Faith." "Faith in what?" "In His power and Will to heal." "How can I believe, when I do not believe?" "He died for you on the Cross." "He did not. That was purely a political matter because the Jews feared the Romans. I have read Strauss; I have read Renan; the four Gospels also: you can't puzzle me. He was a good man, a very good man--quite a saint, if you will. But--the Son of God?" She shook her head with a hard frown of disbelief. Lionel was at his wit's end. "Then you cannot be cured?" "No"; she looked at him steadily, an awful smile curving the corners of her mouth. "I thought you would fail me at the last." "But how can I----?" "You can't, so there's no more to be said." She sat down with a little sigh. "Dear me, how very hot this room is! Would you mind opening the window?" Kaimes did not move. "Leah, go to bed, and let me send for one of those doctors you consulted." "Useless! useless!" She waved him aside calmly. "They have spoken. I know the worst; I am prepared to face the worst. Are you? Hold your tongue," she added peremptorily, as he opened his mouth. "Listen!"