"Remember, Allegro!" she said. "Not a word about Hunt-Goring--to anyone! Not one single tiny suspicion of a hint!" And Olga, looking into her eyes, read terror in her soul. CHAPTER XVII THE VERDICT "It's a difficult position," said Nick. "It's a damnable position," said Max. He stared across the white table-cloth with eyes that brooded under down-drawn brows. "I don't anticipate any sudden development if I can keep her off that cursed opium. But--I'd give fifty pounds to have her people within reach." "Do you know where they are?" said Nick. Max shrugged his shoulders. "They are cruising about the Atlantic to give Mrs. Bruce, who is neurotic, a rest-cure. Of course, when I undertook to keep an eye on the girl, I never anticipated this. Her brother was anxious about her, I thought somewhat unnecessarily. It was that blackguard Hunt-Goring who precipitated matters. I've given him a pretty straight warning, though Heaven alone knows what effect it will have." "What did you say to him?" questioned Nick. "I said that I had just discovered that he had been giving her cigarettes that contained opium. I warned him that it was criminally unsafe, that her brain was peculiarly susceptible to drugs, and that he would probably cause her death if he persisted; also, that if he did I would see that he was held responsible. What more could I say?" "That was fairly direct certainly," said Nick. "And he?" "He asked me to dine," said Max. Nick laughed. "And you didn't accept?" "Would you have accepted?" Max turned on him almost savagely. "I think I should," said Nick. "There's nothing like studying the enemy from close quarters. But go ahead! Tell me more! When do you expect her people back?" "Possibly in a fortnight. They have been gone that time already--rather more. And they expected to make a month of it." Nick nodded. "We ought to be able to hold the fort for that time. What did your friend Sir Kersley think?" Max lifted one eyebrow. "What did he say to you about it?" Nick struck a match for his cigarette with considerable dexterity. "About Violet--practically nothing. About her mother--a good deal." "I wonder why." Max spoke somewhat curtly. Nick lighted his cigarette with a whimsical expression. "You don't seem to have noticed what an excellent confidant I make," he said. "Ah, I know you are safe." There was conviction in Max's tone. "But Kersley is such a reserved chap. And--that ancient affair ruined his life." "I gathered that," said Nick. "As a matter of fact, I knew a little of the affair before we met. He had been a doctor in my old regiment. It was five years after he retired that I joined; but most of the fellows knew the story. It reached me one way or another. I was deuced sorry for him when I heard the truth. Most people out there were of the opinion that he had treated her badly--was, in fact, to a very great measure responsible for the tragedy."