"Oh, don't, I beg of you, Dora," replied Lorimer. "It might make a scandal--that woman would not hesitate to insult you." But Dora was determined to get rid of Mimi, and, addressing her, said, "I will not trouble you to sing any more, mademoiselle; I will send you your cheque to-morrow." So saying, she turned her back on Mimi. "Much obliged," said the latter. And, turning to de Lussac, she added, "Well, I never! She wants to dismiss me. Did you ever hear such cheek? Much obliged, but I'm starving hungry. I'm off to the buffet--your arm, Georges." She went down with de Lussac. Lorimer began to be seriously concerned about Dora. She was pale as death, and seemed every now and then on the point of fainting. She had been going through tortures, but the thing which had dealt her a terrible blow was a scrap of conversation, which she had just heard as she passed through the drawing-room. "It happens every day, and in the best society," said a man whom she did not recognise. "One constantly sees a man making use of his wife's attractions to further his own ends. It is called diplomacy." "In such cases the wife is often an innocent agent." "That is true, but the husband is none the less reprehensible for that," added a third voice. Of whom had they been speaking? There was a singing in her ears. Great Heaven! was it of her? She closed her eyes and thought she was going to lose consciousness. Lorimer took it upon him to go to Philip and tell him that Dora was tired and unwell, and that it would perhaps be unwise to expose her to any more fatigue that evening. "Thanks, dear old fellow," said Philip, "it will be all over in an hour or less; we are going to supper in a moment." Lorimer had found Philip engaged in describing his shell to Sabaroff. Philip went at once to Dora; her pallor frightened him. Taking her hands in his own, he said-- "Well, darling, how do you feel? You look tired; keep up your courage, we are going to supper now. In an hour's time you will be free to rest--you must not get up to-morrow; the next day you will feel nothing more of it. Everything has gone beautifully, everybody is delighted with the evening they have passed. The General is interested in my shell--I am convinced that Russia will offer me a fortune for it; but why do you look at me in that way?" "I am tired to death; I don't feel well; I cannot go on any longer." "Have courage, dear; it is nearly over. The hour has come when you can do great things for me; a wife can be of such help to her husband--with a little diplomacy." Dora shuddered--it was the phrase which she had just heard. The room seemed to swim round as she heard Philip repeat the words. "What do you want me to do?" "Why, nothing very difficult for you,--help me with a few smiles; invite the General to come and see us sometimes. Why do you look at me in that strange fashion?" "You want me to ask that man to come and see me as a friend, after what I have told you?"