"
"Yes," replied Diana, an odd expression flitting across her face. "It
will save Max a long story--when we meet. Tell me," she continued, with
an effort, "tell me about--Nadine Mazaroff."
"Nadine?" cried Olga, with sudden violence. "Nadine Mazaroff is the
woman I hate more than any other on this earth!" Her eyes gleamed
malevolently. "She stands where Max should stand. If it were not for
her the Ruvanian people would have accepted him as their ruler--and
overlooked his English mother. But Nadine is the legitimate heir, the
child of the late Grand Duke--and Max is thrust out of the succession,
because our father's marriage was a morganatic one."
"_Your_ father?"
"Yes"--with a brief smile--"I am the sister whose existence you
discovered."
For a moment Diana was silent. It had never occurred to her to connect
Max and Olga in any way; the latter had always seemed to her to be more
or less at open enmity with him.
Immediately her heart contracted with the old haunting fear. What, then,
was Adrienne to Max?
"Go on," she whispered at last, under her breath. "Go on."
"I've never forgiven my father"--Olga spoke with increasing passion.
"For his happiness with his English wife, Max and I have paid every day
of our lives! . . . As soon as I was of age, I refused the State
allowance granted me as a daughter of Boris Mazaroff, and left the
Ruvanian Court.
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