But if you marry him, my dear Mees Quentin--good-bye to your career as a world-artiste, good-bye to the most marvellous voice that the good God has ever let me hear." "I don't see why.

Max thoroughly understands professional life." "Nevertheless, believe me, there will--there _must_ come a time when Max Errington's wife will not be able to appear before the world as a public singer.

I who speak, I know." Diana flashed round upon him suddenly.
"_You_--you know his secret ?" "I know it." So, then, the secret which must be hidden from his wife was yet known to Carlo Baroni! Diana felt her former resentment surge up anew within her.

It was unfair--shamefully unfair for Max to treat her in this way! It was making a mockery of their love.
Baroni's keen old eyes read the conflict of emotions in her face, and he laid his finger unerringly upon the sore spot.

His one idea was to prevent Diana from marrying, to guard her--as he mentally phrased it--for the art he loved so well, and he was prepared to stick at nothing that might aid his cause.
"So he has not told you ?" he said slowly.