There was something in Steinmetz that appealed to her and softened her, something that reached a tender part of her heart through the coating of vanity, through the hardness of worldly experience.
"I have known De Chauxville twenty-five years," he went on, and Etta deferred her confession.

"We have never been good friends, I admit.

I am no saint, princess, but De Chauxville is a villain.

Some day you may discover, when it is too late, that it would have been for Paul's happiness, for your happiness, for every one's good to have nothing more to do with Claude de Chauxville, I want to save you that discovery.

Will you act upon my advice?
Will you make a stand now?
Will you come to me and tell me all that De Chauxville knows about you that he could ever use against you?
Will you give yourself into my hands--give me your battle to fight?
You cannot do it alone.