Part 38 (1/2)
”And whom have I to thank for that? You--you, from whom, more than from any other, I might have expected loyalty.”
Olga shook her head.
”No, not me. But the fact that no wife worth the name will stand quietly by and see her husband at the beck and call of another woman.”
”More especially when there is some one who drops poison in her ear day by day,” he retorted.
”Yes,” she acknowledged frankly. ”If I can bring matters to a head, force you to a choice between Adrienne and Diana, I shall do it. And then, before G.o.d, Max! I believe you'll free yourself from that woman.”
”No,” he answered quietly, ”I shall not.”
”You'll sacrifice Diana?”--incredulously.
A smile of confidence lightened his face.
”I don't think it will come to that. I'm staking--everything--on Diana's trust in me.”
”Then you'll lose--lose, I tell you.”
”No,” he said steadily. ”I shall win.”
Olga smote her hands together.
”Was there ever such a fool! I tell you, no woman's trust can hold out for ever. And since you can't explain to her--”
”It won't be for ever,” he broke in quickly. ”Everything goes well.
Before long all the concealment will be at an end. And I shall be free.”
Olga turned away.
”I can't wish you success,” she said bitterly. ”The day that brings you success will be the blackest hour of my life.”
Errington's face softened a little.
”Olga, you are unreasonable--”
”Unreasonable, am I? Because I grudge paying for the sins of others? . . . If that is unreasonable--yes, then, I _am_ unreasonable!
Now, go. Go, and remember, Max, we are on opposite sides of the camp.”
Errington paused at the door.
”So long as you keep your honour--_our_ honour--clean,” he said, ”do what you like! I have utter, absolute trust in Diana.”
CHAPTER XIX
THE ”FIRST NIGHT” PERFORMANCE
The curtain fell amidst a roar of applause, and the lights flashed up over the auditorium once more. It was the first night performance of ”Mrs. Fleming's Husband,” and the house was packed with the usual crowd of first-nighters, critics, and members of ”the” profession who were anxious to see Miss de Gervais in the new part Max Errington had created for her.
Diana and Joan Stair were in a box, escorted only by Jerry, since Max had firmly refused to come down to the theatre for the first performance.