"It will not last. When Colonel Grand hears that he is back in town his first step will be to have him thrown into jail on one pretext or another. Braddock realizes this. He has made up his mind to strike first. I think he believes in you, Mrs. Braddock--in fact, I am sure he does. I know he loves Christine. But he hates Colonel Grand even more than he loves her or--you. He--" "Oh, he does not love me, David. You need not hesitate," she said drearily. "As I have already said, he gave Dick a half-promise that he would try to see you. He has two questions he intends to ask, I believe. I think, Mrs. Braddock, you will be doing a very wise thing if you see him--of your own free will. He will probably insist on seeing you in any event--even in the face of opposition. You can avoid a great deal of trouble by--well, by not barring him out. I know how it must distress you. I wish I could take all the worry, all the trouble off your shoulders. But there would be only one way in which I could do it--and that would be a desperate one." It was then that she laid her trembling, icy hand on his, and said, "Search for him until you find him." David hesitated a moment before putting his next question. It touched on a very tender subject. "Have you thought of divorcing him?" "No, David," she said quietly. "I made my bed years ago, as Joey would say. Tom is Christine's father. He is my husband. You may well say, God help both of us. But, David, while I cannot live with him, I intend to remain his wife to the end. I am ready to promise anything to him if he will go away. I will give him all of the money I received for my share of the hateful business. He must accept it quietly, sanely. It is for _her_ sake, and he must be made to see it. The world knows that I ran away to be married, but it has forgotten the circumstances. The general belief is that my husband died years and years ago, and that I have lived abroad ever since. There is one thing to his credit, David. I shall not forget it. When he was arrested, he thought of Christine and--and--well, he gave an assumed name, an alias, to the police. Colonel Grand kept his own silence, and for years he has held this over me as a threat. I have had many letters from him, believe me. Christine is no longer the little, unheard-of circus rider. She is--well, she is a _personage_. Do you understand?" He nodded his head. She went on hurriedly. "Tell Tom I _want_ to see him. Tell him I am ready to discuss everything with him. Tell him that nothing must happen that can injure her." "He may insist on seeing--her." "She does not know that he has been in prison," she said miserably. "But if he should insist?"