"But--if you'd stopped wanting me? Why--why? You said yourself I didn't seem to be a judge of how much it took to kill love." "Yes, I said that." "And you said other things. You said a million was always useful to anyone----" "There I banked again on your sense of humour. Or perhaps a little on your judgment of character." "I must confess I've tried to judge yours!" Marise exclaimed, almost in spite of herself. "But I can't--I'm always stumbling against things--in the dark." "Well, there's plenty of 'dark'! I admit that," said Garth. "Many people would say that of me. Perhaps the only one who wouldn't is little Mothereen, and we can't count her, can we? There are all sorts of horrid possibilities in the dark, where a character's concerned. My motive, though _not_ mercenary, might have been revenge punishment!" "That's often seemed to me the most likely!" cried Marise. "Especially _now_." "Especially now? Explain, please." "Now, when you've brought _that girl_ out here, close to this house. You did bring her, didn't you? You asked me to be honest. Be honest yourself!" "By my request she came." "You paid for her to come?" "Yes, I couldn't let her give up a good job in New York, even for awhile, and travel so far on my business, at her own expense--could I?" "On your business?" "Yes. I told you once that Miss Marks was an old friend. We've known each other for years. She used to live at Albuquerque. Cath and Bill, whom you met, are her cousins--or rather, Cath is. Mothereen is fond----" "Ah, now I'm _sure_ of something I only wondered about before!" "Will you tell me what that is?" "A note for Meesis Garth from the Hotel El Tovar," announced the voice of the half-breed maid. "Bring it to me!" Marise ordered. The girl, instinctively aware that she'd interrupted a "scene," tripped across the terrace with an apologetic air. Marise almost snatched an envelope from a little silver tray and tore it open. Her strong young eyes could just make out through the dusk a few lines of written words. "This is from Zélie Marks!" she exclaimed, looking up at Garth. "She wants me to come over at once and see her at the hotel. She says she has been ill, and that's the reason she's staying on there." "She tells the truth. She had appendicitis. They thought there'd have to be an operation, but they cured her up--or nearly--without. Why does she ask to see you?" "She says she'll explain everything when I get there." "Do you intend to go?" "Yes. I'd like to hear--her story." "All right--go. You shall have the car, of course. But there are a few things I'd prefer to tell you myself first." "I'd rather hear everything from her." Garth gave a shrug. "Very well. As you please. But you and she both seem to forget dinner-time. You'll be hungry if----" "I won't be hungry!" cried Marise. "I want to start now."