I protested. Captain Vauvenarde had put himself outside the pale. He was not fit to associate with decent women. What object could she have in meeting him? “I want to judge for myself,” she replied. “Judge what? Surely not whether he is eligible as a husband!” “Yes,” she said. “But, my dear Lola,” I cried, “the notion is as crazy as any of Anastasius Papadopoulos's. Of course, as soon as he learns that you're a rich woman, he'll want to live with you, and use your money for his gaming-hell.” “I am going to meet him,” she said quietly. “I forbid it.” “You're too late, dear friend. I wrote him a letter before dinner and sent it to the Cercle Africain by special messenger. I also wrote to Anastasius. I asked them both to see me to-morrow morning. That's why I've been so gay this evening.” At the sight of my blank face she laughed, and with one of her movements rose from her chair. I rose too. “Are you angry with me?” “I thought I had walked out of a nightmare,” I said. “I find I'm still in it.” “But don't be angry with me. It was the only way.” “The only way to, or out of, what?” I asked, bewildered. “Never mind.” She looked at me with a singular expression in her slumbrous eyes. It was sad, wistful, soothing, and gave me the idea of a noble woman making a senseless sacrifice. “There is no earthly reason to do this on account of Dale,” I protested. “Dale has nothing to do with it.” “Then who has?” “Anastasius Papadopoulos,” she said with undisguised irony. “I beg your pardon,” I said rather stiffly, “for appearing to force your confidence. But as I first put the idea of joining your husband into your head and have enjoyed your confidence in the matter hitherto, I thought I might claim certain privileges.” As she had done before, she laid her hands on my shoulders--we were alone in the alcove--and looked me in the eyes. “Don't make me cry. I'm very near it. And I'm tired to-night, and I'm going to have a hellish time to-morrow. And I want you to do me a favour.” “What is that?” “When I'm seeing my husband, I'd like to know that you were within call--in case I wanted you. One never knows what may happen. You will come won't you, if I send for you?” “I'm always at your service,” I said. She released my shoulders and grasped my hand. “Good-night,” she said, abruptly, and rushed swiftly out of the room, leaving me wondering more than I had ever wondered in my life at the inscrutable ways of women. CHAPTER XIV