"I quite agree with you," she rejoined promptly. "And why?" "Because I love you." "Not at all. Because you don't love Katinka Aksakoff." "What has that to do with this?" he said gloomily. "Everything. She is free and I am not; she loves you, and I don't; she will do you good, I shall do you harm; she can gain your pardon and make your fortune----" "And you can make me happy," cried Demetrius, looking up with the air of one who has found a clinching argument. "With the crumbs from my husband's table?" "You don't love him!" The British-matron portion of Leah revolted against this plain speaking. She liked sugar-coated speeches. "You have no right to say that." "I have no right to make love to you," cried the doctor, rising, "but I do. Pschutt"--he snapped his fingers--"what care I for that English pig, your husband? As to that young fool who sat beside you last night----" Lady Jim clapped her hands, and jumped up, laughing. "Oh," she cried, with great enjoyment, "so it was Mr. Askew's attentions that made you lose your head?" "But not my heart. I lost that months ago, when I first met you. Ah, you cruel woman, have I not worshipped and adored you these many days? Do I not ache here?" he struck his breast passionately. "Have you not made my life miserable with your looks and smiles and coldness and beauty?" He seized her hands roughly. "I love you so much that I--even I, Constantine Demetrius--could kill you--kill you." She released herself with a cold laugh. "That sounds as though you were in earnest. But if I could return your love----" "Ah!" he made a step towards her, trembling and breathing hard. "One moment." She waved him back, and retreated herself to the window. "Supposing I could love you--what then?" "I would--I would----" He flung out his hands with a sob. "What is your price?" he cried savagely. "How crudely you put things!" said Lady Jim, coolly. "My price is your services, to be given blindly, and without question." "And my reward?" "Marriage with me." Demetrius stared, and gazed at her with unaffected amazement. "You mock me," he said faintly. "No, I am in earnest. It is true that I am not free now. But," she looked at him steadily, "you can make me so." "Murder," whispered Demetrius, looking up and down the long, empty, chill gallery, and not at the Eve who was tempting him. Leah blazed out into genuine rage. "What do you mean?" she cried, stamping her foot. "Not a hair of Jim's head shall be harmed." "Then how--how----?" "Sit down and listen," she said, pointing to a chair. "I have a deeper feeling for you than you think. No; leave my hand alone. We are now talking business." "Business," echoed Demetrius, blankly. Lady Jim nodded composedly. "The pleasure can come later. You have no money, no title, no position----" "I can make money," he explained rapidly; "and I can take up again my title of Prince, which I dropped when I became a doctor. As the wife of a Russian noble----"