"Surely you knew. His ravings did not take you in," she cried scornfully. "Everyone knows he simply loathes Sir Robert Ottley. He used to be the little old millionaire's tin god. Sir Robert hardly dared to breathe without consulting his oracle. And they say the man bled him of thousands. No wonder he went mad to find that Sir Robert had escaped his influence. Ever since then he has been saying the most awful things. Lots of people believe them, I know, but I never thought you would." "I don't." I smiled. I could smile now, for I felt wonderfully relieved. "But tell me, Lady Helen, just why you employed him to say that to your husband?" She puffed out a cloud of smoke. "Dixon is superstitious at heart," she replied. "He will not want to, but he will end by believing what Navarro told him." "What! that you care for him despising you?" "Silly!" she cried. "No--not that I care for him--but for another man despising me--the man for whom _I care_. Have you forgotten Navarro's words?" "But why on earth deceive your husband?" "To make him jealous." "Of a chimera?" "No, my friend," said Lady Helen, smiling very strangely. "Of you! Remember, you have promised to revile me to him. That alone would fix a suspicious mind like his on you. But to make assurance doubly sure, I told him this afternoon that it hurt me very much to find that he had given you a poor opinion of me." I sprang to my feet, aghast. "But look here--my girl," I cried. "This is a dangerous game you are playing." "Are you afraid--are you then a coward?" she flashed. "Hubbard is my oldest friend. You will make him hate me!" I protested. "And you will refuse to risk that for his happiness and mine?" she asked. "Remember, he is my husband, and soured, twisted creature that he is, I love him!" "Ah!" said I. "I could have made you serve me in ignorance," she cried, "but I am incapable of playing you or any other--save him--a trick like that. However, say the word and the play ends--this instant. I have no claim upon you. I'll save you the trouble of telling me that. I am only a woman fellow-creature, and knight-errants are out of fashion now-a-days. Well--what is it to be?" Her words stung like nettles. Such a little spitfire I had never seen before. But that was the proper way to treat me, and I believe she knew it. She was as sharp as any needle, that young woman. "I am not in the habit of breaking my word once given," I growled out. "Good-night!" Then I stalked off most indignant. But she caught me at the door, flung her arms round my neck and kissed me on both cheeks. "You are a darling," she whispered. "And--well--Dixon will have to hurry and reform--or else--but there--go!"