But Diana's mind started upon its scheming journey was now travelling fast.
Out of that devil's seed there sprang with amazing rapidity a tree-like growth, throwing out branches, putting forth leaves, bearing already--in her fancy--bloom and fruit.
"Why not ?" quoth she after a breathing space, and her voice was gentle, her tone innocent beyond compare.

"Why should you not ask him ?" Ruth frowned, perplexed and thoughtful, and now Diana turned to her with the lively eye of one into whose mind has leapt a sudden inspiration.
"Ruth!" she exclaimed.

"Why, indeed, should you not ask him to forgo this duel ?" "How, how could I ?" faltered Ruth.
"He'd not deny you; you know he'd not." "I do not know it," answered Ruth.

"But if I did, how could I ask it ?" "Were I Richard's sister, and had I his life and honour at heart as you have, I'd not ask how.

If Richard goes to that encounter he loses both, remember--unless between this and then he undergoes some change.