"Where he can't be arrested," laughed Lady Jim. "Well, your message shall be duly delivered. And I may as well confess, since we are committed to plain speaking, that M. Demetrius informed me why he had to leave Russia." "His confidence will render it easier for you to make a treaty between us, madame." "Possibly. But you will understand that I assume the rôle of peacemaker solely on my husband's account." "Madame," Aksakoff bent and raised her hand to kiss it; "as a wife you are far above rubies. Shall we return?" Leah consented without moving. She had not yet solved her problem. "One moment. You will give me your word that M. Demetrius will not be lured to Paris?" "I give you my word, if the treaty is made, and Katinka is disabused of her infatuation." "Which forms part of the treaty," said Leah, lightly. "In the interests of Jim, I'll do my best; but should he go to Paris----" "He will assuredly leave it for Siberia, which is much colder and not so amusing." "Then I must advise him to be naturalised in England." "It will be the act of a friend, madame. And also, you might advise him to beware of this actress." "Oh, I can't intrude my advice into his strictly private affairs." "If you wish your husband to be cured, it will be as well to do so," Aksakoff recommended. "Mademoiselle Ninette is not to be trusted." "Ninette? I have seen her--a very charming artiste." "But unscrupulous." "Not so much so, I hope, as to betray the man she loves." "A woman, madam, will do much for money." "How well you know the sex, monsieur!" said Lady Jim, ironically. "I have had some experience, madame." "And have benefited so little that you cannot manage your daughter without my intervention." "I confess it. Let me amend my statement by saying that I have had many experiences and little experience." "That is a more correct way of putting it," said Leah, gravely; "for I assure you, M. Aksakoff, that if a woman loves a man, she certainly will not betray him for money." "We join issue, madame. The Uranian Aphrodite is not the divinity in this case, and Aphrodite Pandemos can be bought." "How classical and confusing! And the price?" "Two thousand pounds," said Aksakoff, carelessly. "You should reckon it in francs, seeing that Mademoiselle Ninette is French. Otherwise she will not understand." "The jingle of gold is a universal language, madame." "An agreeable one, at all events. I wish we had more opportunity of studying it. Well, M. Aksakoff, for Jim's sake, I shall see that M. Demetrius affords this harpy no opportunity of earning the money." "And you will pardon my mentioning the harpy's name?" "We are a man and woman of the world, M. Aksakoff: there is no need to call spades shovels. I thank you for considering my husband. To lose the skill of M. Demetrius might result in his death." "I am happy to have been of service to you, madame, and of course, you can understand my paternal feelings."