No; that was not the way to help Vance. Her only intervention on his behalf had been a failure. All she could do was to hold her tongue, and do what she could to contribute to the success of his new book. It flattered her (far more than she knew) to feel that in that way she really could be of use to him. To be his Muse, his inspiration—then there really was some meaning in the stale old image! She knew she had had a real share in the making of Instead, and she wore the secret knowledge like a jewel… .

"Well?—" she questioned her husband, when they had returned to the library after dinner. She knew it was necessary for his digestion (an uncertain function) that he should unburden himself of the grievance she read in every look and intonation. And sometimes, when she rendered him this service, she felt as impersonal as a sick nurse smoothing out a fractious invalid.

Tarrant gave his short retrospective laugh—like the scratch of a match throwing back a brief flare on his grievance. "Oh, it's only your protégé again—"

She felt a little shiver of apprehension. Usually a cool harmony reigned between Tarrant and herself. Since the day of her great outburst, when she had refused to accompany him to Europe, she had carefully avoided anything approaching a disagreement. She had learned her lesson that day; and futile wrangles were humiliating to her. But whenever Vance Weston's name was pronounced between them the air seemed to become electric. Was it her husband's fault or hers? She was always on the alert to defend Vance, she hardly knew from what. Or was it herself she was defending …  ?

"What protégé?" she asked carelessly.

"I didn't know you had more than one. Weston, of course—yes, he's been treating me to another of his scenes. Really, the fellow's not housebroken. And a sneak too … can't run straight… ."

"Lewis!"

"Dirty sneak. He's after more money, as usual, and he's been trying to get Lambart to buy his book from Dreck and Saltzer without first consulting me. Buy up our double contract with him … behind my back! But women can never see the enormity of these things… ."

He paused, and stirred his coffee angrily. "I daresay you see nothing in it," he challenged her.

Halo's heart had subsided to a more regular measure. It was not what she had feared … she was ashamed to think how much! She assured herself hastily that her fears had been for Vance, and not for herself. If he had lost his head and betrayed his feeling for her to her husband it would have meant ruin for him. She knew the deadly patience of Tarrant's retaliations.