And Adrienne,
of course, in her extremity, had turned to her latest captive, Max
himself, for protection!
Oh! it was all quite clear now! The scattered pieces of the puzzle were
fitting together and making a definite picture.
Stray remarks of Olga Lermontof's came back to her--those little pointed
arrows wherewith the Russian had skilfully found out the joints in her
armour--"Miss de Gervais is not quite what she seems." And again, "I'm
perfectly sure Adrienne de Gervais' past is a closed book to you." Proof
positive that Olga had known all along what Diana had only just this
moment perceived to be the truth.
Diana's small hands clenched themselves until the nails dug into the soft
palms, as she remembered how those same hands had been held out in
friendship to this very adventuress--to the woman who had wrecked her
happiness, and for whom Max was ready at any time to set her and her
wishes upon one side! What a blind, trusting fool she had been! Well,
that was all ended now; she knew where she stood. Never again would Max
or Adrienne be able to deceive her. The scales had at last fallen from
her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Diana"--Max's cool, quiet tones broke in on the torment of
her thoughts. "I'm sorry, but I shall probably have to be away several
days."
"Have you forgotten we're giving a big reception here next Wednesday?"
"Wednesday, is it? And to-day is Saturday.
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