"The change
to which you refer would seem to go deeper."
"Very likely," murmured Mrs. Sin. "I know why you don't smoke. You
have promised your pretty little friend that you will stay awake and
see that nobody tries to cut her sweet white throat."
Sir Lucien listened imperturbably.
"She is certainly nervous," he admitted coolly. "I may add that I am
sorry I brought her here."
"Oh," said Mrs. Sin, her voice rising half a note. "Then why do you
bring her to the House?"
"She made the arrangement herself, and I took the easier path. I am
considering your interests as much as my own, Lola. She is about to
marry Monte Irvin, and if his suspicions were aroused he is quite
capable of digging down to the 'Hundred Raptures.'"
"You brought her to Kazmah's."
"She was not at that time engaged to Irvin."
"Ah, I see. And now everybody says you are changed. Yes, she is a
charming friend."
Pyne looked up into the half-veiled dark eyes.
"She never has been and never can be any more to me, Lola," he said.
At those words, designed to placate, the fire which smouldered in
Lola's breast burst into sudden flame. She leapt to her feet,
confronting Sir Lucien.
"I know! I know!" she cried harshly. "Do you think I am blind? If she
had been like any of the others, do you suppose it would have mattered
to me? But you respect her--you respect her!"
Eyes blazing and hands clenched, she stood before him, a woman mad
with jealousy, not of a successful rival but of a respected one.
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