assuredly find material for a sermon on the wickedness of that great city Nineveh,--I believe you parsons give Western towns Eastern names, when you wish to abuse them--to avoid libel actions, maybe." Then followed the mention of the rope to drag this clerical lover across Channel. "Do come, if only to see how Joan enjoys the society of Mr. Askew." The expected happened on the fifth day of Lady Jim's sojourn in Paris, when, shortly after noon, Demetrius, obviously disordered in dress and mind, presented himself in the character of a bolt from the blue. Luckily, Askew was translating to Joan the Luxor hieroglyphics in the vicinity of the Place de la Concorde Obelisk, so that she had an hour to explain away the rumours which had undoubtedly brought him over. When the sitting-room door clicked behind him--he facing her with black looks--she drew a deep breath to brace for the fight, and heard, what he did not, the snick of prison bolts shot home. So far, lured by the will-o'-the-wisp, jealousy, he had followed recklessly the dangerous path; now it remained for her to conduct him to the precipice, over which she and Aksakoff intended he should be thrown. A trifle of acting was necessary to reassure the venturesome and perhaps suspicious traveller. "M. Demetrius! Are you mad?" "Not Constantine, then." He panted like a spent runner, and his face twisted in a wry smile. "What do you mean?" Demetrius dropped heavily into the nearest chair, and sent angry, inquiring glances into every corner. "Where is he?" "Where is who?" "Oh, madame"--he became sarcastic here--"you know very well, I think." "I know nothing, save that you are foolish to venture into Paris, where there is a price on your head. M. Aksakoff is here, too; if he knew--if he guessed." "Well, what matter? I have run greater risks for lesser reasons." "Yet they must be strong ones in the present instance, to make you enter the bear's den." "I have one reason for my venture, madame--you; and another--Mr. Askew; not to speak of a third--this marriage at your Embassy." "I can understand the first; the second may be explained by wholly unnecessary jealousy; but the final one--this marriage you speak of?" "Between yourself and Mr. Askew." Lady Jim stared, then laughed good-humouredly. "My dear Constantine, the idea is too ridiculous." "I have the news on good authority." "Which is the last authority you should believe. Mr. Askew is certainly here; but not, I believe, in the character of a bridegroom." "Mrs. Penworthy----" "Oh!" Leah's scorn was worthy of the great Sarah. "Mrs.--Penworthy?" "She told me that you came here; that Mr. Askew followed----" "Forty-eight hours later. Quite correct." "And that you intended to marry him at the British Embassy." "Really! I never knew that Mrs. Penworthy was imaginative." "It is not true!" His eye probed her. She did not flinch. "You must be mad to think so." "It is not true?" he persisted.