The boy had evidently let the wine alone, or else fright had sobered him, for he looked terribly white and tired: "Yes," he said, "I'll go when you wish. I suppose they'll never forgive me for this. Come on." "One moment, then," nodded Selwyn; "I want to speak to Mrs. Ruthven." And, quietly turning to Alixe, and dropping his voice to a tone too low for Neergard to hear--for he was plainly attempting to listen: "You are making a mistake; do you understand? Whoever is your hostess--wherever you are staying--find her and go there before it is too late." She inclined her pretty head thoughtfully, eyes on the wine-glass which she was turning round and round between her slender fingers. "What do you mean by 'too late'?" she asked. "Don't you know that everything is too late for me now?" "What do _you_ mean, Alixe?" he returned, watching her intently. "What I say. I have not seen Jack Ruthven for two months. Do you know what that means? I have not heard from him for two months. Do you know what _that_ means? No? Well, I'll tell you, Philip; it means that when I do hear from him it will be through his attorneys." He turned slightly paler: "Why"?" "Divorce," she said with a reckless little laugh--"and the end of things for me." "On what grounds?" he demanded doggedly. "Does he threaten you?" She made no movement or reply, reclining there, one hand on her wine-glass, the smile still curving her lips. And he repeated his question in a low, distinct voice--too low for Neergard to hear; and he was still listening. "Grounds? Oh, he thinks I've misbehaved with--never mind who. It is not true--but he cares nothing about that, either. You see"--and she bent nearer, confidentially, with a mysterious little nod of her pretty head--"you see, Jack Ruthven is a little insane. . . . You are surprised? Pooh! I've suspected it for months." He stared at her; then: "Where are you stopping?" "Aboard the _Niobrara_." "Is Mrs. Fane a guest there, too?" He spoke loud enough for Rosamund to hear; and she answered for herself with a smile at him, brimful of malice: "Delighted to have you come aboard, Captain Selwyn. Is that what you are asking permission to do?" "Thanks," he returned dryly; and to Alixe: "If you are ready, Gerald and I will take you over to the _Niobrara_ in the motor-boat--" "Oh, no, you won't!" broke in Neergard with a sneer--"you'll mind your own business, my intrusive friend, and I'll take care of my guests without your assistance." Selwyn appeared not to hear him: "Come on, Gerald," he said pleasantly; "Mrs. Ruthven is going over to the _Niobrara_--" "For God's sake," whispered Gerald, white as a sheet, "don't force me into trouble with Neergard." Selwyn turned on him an astonished gaze: "Are you _afraid_ of that whelp?" "Yes," muttered the boy--"I--I'll explain later. But don't force things now, I beg you."