"You're looking very pale," she remarked, at the end of the hour. "And you're shockingly out of voice! What's the matter?" Then, as Diana made no answer, she added teasingly: "Matrimony doesn't seem to have agreed with you too well. Doesn't Max play the devoted husband satisfactorily?" Diana flushed. "You've no right to talk like that, Olga, even in jest," she said, with a little touch of matronly dignity that sat rather quaintly and sweetly upon her. "I know you don't like Max--never have liked him--but please recollect that you're speaking of my husband." "You misunderstand me," replied the Russian, coolly, as she drew on her gloves. "I _don't_ dislike him; but I do think he ought to be perfectly frank with you. As you say, he is your husband"--pointedly. "Perfectly frank with me?" Miss Lermontof nodded. "Yes." "He has been," affirmed Diana. "Has he, indeed? Have you ever asked him"--she paused significantly--"who he is?" "_Who he is_?" Diana felt her heart contract. What new mystery was this at which the other was hinting? "_Who he is_?" she repeated. "Why--why--what do you mean?" The accompanists queer green eyes narrowed between their heavy lids. "Ask him--that's all," she replied shortly. She drew her furs around her shoulders preparatory to departure, but Diana stepped in front of her, laying a detaining hand on her arm. "What do you mean?" she demanded hotly. "Are you implying now that Max is going about under a false name? I hate your hints! Always, always you've tried to insinuate something against Max. . . . No!"--as the Russian endeavoured to free herself from her clasp--"No! You shan't leave this house till you've answered my question. You've made an accusation, and you shall prove it--if I have to bring you face to face with Max himself!" "I've made no accusation--merely a suggestion that you should ask him who he is. And as to bringing me face to face with him--I can assure you"--there was an inflection of ironical amusement in her light tones--"no one would be less anxious for such a _denouement_ than Max Errington himself. Now, good-bye; think over what I've said. And remember"--mockingly--"Adrienne de Gervais is a bad friend for the man one loves!" She flitted through the doorway, and Diana was left to deal as best she might with the innuendo contained in her speech. "_Adrienne de Gervais is a bad friend for the man one loves._"