"Yes--I should say there are very few women of that rather uncomfortable sort of habit,--the fewer the better, in my opinion. Now Miss Manella Soriso, remember what I say to you! Don't think about being 'held' by anybody except by a lover and husband! See? Play the game! With such looks as God has given you, it should be easy! Win your 'god' away from his thunderbolts before he begins havoc with them from his miniature Olympus. If he wants the 'moon' (and possibly he doesn't!) he won't say no to a star,--it's the next best thing. Seriously now,"--and Gwent threw away the end of his cigar and laid a hand gently on her arm--"be a good girl and think over what I've said to you. Marry him if you can!--it will be the making of him!" Manella gazed about her in the darkness, bewildered. A glittering little mob of fire-flies danced above her head like a net of jewels. "Oh, you talk so strangely!" she said--"You forget!--I am a poor girl--I have no money--" "Neither has he,"--and Gwent gave a short laugh. "But he could make a million dollars to-morrow--if he chose. Having only himself to consider, he DOESN'T choose! If he had YOU, he'd change his opinion. Seaton's not the man to have a wife without keeping her in comfort. I tell you again, you can be the making of him. You can save his life!" She clasped her hands nervously. A little gasping sigh came from her lips. "Oh!--Santa Madonna!--to save his life!" "Ah, just that!" said Gwent impressively--"Think of it! I'm not speaking lies--that's not my way. The man is making for himself what we in the European war called a 'danger zone,' where everybody not 'in the know' was warned off hidden mines. Hidden mines! He's got them! That's so! You can take my word! It's no good looking for them, no one will ever find them but himself, and he thinks of nothing else. But if he fell in love with YOU---" She gave a hopeless gesture. "He will not--he thinks nothing of me--nothing!--no!--though he says I am beautiful!" "Oh, he says that, does he?" and Gwent smiled--"Well, he'd be a fool if he didn't!" "Ah, but he does not care for beauty!" Manella went on. "He sees it and he smiles at it, but it does not move him!"