She was no longer a person aloof, a prophetess, a seer of visions; she was simply a smartly-dressed girl of today, trussed up in a ridiculous and painful position--that was all.

The dignity was gone.

And the more she realised that, the more she was hindered from influencing her audience, the less able she was to concentrate her mind upon them, to will them to favour her.Mme.

Dauvray's suspicions, she was sure, were still awake.

She could not quell them.