Her lips stiffened. She could not say the word. For several seconds she strove with it inarticulately; then suddenly, wildly, she flung out her hands, urging him from her. "Oh, go! Go! Go!" she cried. "Let me never see you again!" He did not go. He stood absolutely still, watching her. But she was scarcely aware of him any longer. For her strength had suddenly deserted her. She was sunk against the wall with her hands over her face, sobbing terrible, tearless sobs that shook her from head to foot. Nick started towards her, but Max stretched out a powerful arm, and kept him back. "No, Nick," he said firmly. "This is my concern. You go, like a good chap. I'll come to you presently." "I will not!" said Nick flatly. He gripped the opposing arm at the elbow so that it doubled abruptly. But Max wheeled upon him on the instant and held him fast. "Look here," he said, "I'm in earnest." "So am I," said Nick. They faced one another for a moment in open conflict; then half-contemptuously Max made an appeal. "Don't let us be fools!" he said. "It's for her sake I want you to go. I'll tell you why later. If you butt in now, you will make the biggest mistake of your life." "Take your hands off me!" said Nick. He complied. Nick went straight to Olga. "Olga," he said, "for Heaven's sake, be reasonable! Give him a chance to set things straight!" It was urgently spoken. His hand, vital and very insistent, closed upon one of hers, drawing it down from her face. She looked at him with hunted eyes. "Nick," she said, "tell him--to go!" "I can't, dear," he made answer. "You've made an accusation that no man could take lying down. You'll have to face it out now." "But it's the truth!" she said. "It's a damnable lie!" said Nick. "Nick," it was Max's voice measured and deliberate, "will you leave me to deal with this?" Olga's hand turned in Nick's and clung to it. "You needn't go, Nick," she said hurriedly. "Yes, I'm going," said Nick. "You can come to me afterwards if you like. I shall be in my room." He squeezed her hand and relinquished it. His yellow face was full of kindness, but she saw that he would not be persuaded to remain. In silence she watched him go. Then slowly, reluctantly, she turned to Max. He was standing watching her with fixed, implacable eyes. "Well?" he said, as she looked at him. "Do you really want me to deny this preposterous story?" She leaned against the wall, facing him. She felt unutterably tired--as if she were too weary to take any further interest in anything. Neither his denial nor Nick's could make the tale untrue. "It doesn't make much difference," she said drearily. "Thanks!" said Max shortly. And then, as if suddenly making up his mind, he came to her and took her almost roughly by the shoulders. "Olga," he said, "how dare you believe this thing of me?" She looked at him and her face quivered. "You have never told me the truth," she said.