"Iamguiltyofnooffense，"hesaidquietly。"Ihavebutsoughttodefendmyself。Idonotknowwhythewomanhastoldyouwhatshehas。Shecanhavenoenmityagainstme，forneveruntilIcametothisroominresponsetohercriesforhelphadIseenher。"
"Come，come，"saidoneoftheofficers;"therearejudgestolistentoallthat，"andheadvancedtolayhishanduponTarzan’sshoulder。Aninstantlaterhelaycrumpledinacorneroftheroom，andthen，ashiscomradesrushedinupontheape—man，theyexperiencedatasteofwhattheapacheshadbutrecentlygonethrough。Soquicklyandsoroughlydidhehandlethemthattheyhadnotevenanopportunitytodrawtheirrevolvers。
DuringthebrieffightTarzanhadnotedtheopenwindowand，beyond，thestemofatree，oratelegraphpole——hecouldnottellwhich。Asthelastofficerwentdown，oneofhisfellowssucceededindrawinghisrevolverand，fromwherehelayonthefloor，firedatTarzan。Theshotmissed，andbeforethemancouldfireagainTarzanhadsweptthelampfromthemantelandplungedtheroomintodarkness。
Thenexttheysawwasalitheformspringtothesilloftheopenwindowandleap，panther—like，ontothepoleacrossthewalk。Whenthepolicegatheredthemselvestogetherandreachedthestreettheirprisonerwasnowheretobeseen。
Theydidnothandlethewomanandthemenwhohadnotescapedanytoogentlywhentheytookthemtothestation;theywereaverysoreandhumiliateddetailofpolice。
Itgalledthemtothinkthatitwouldbenecessarytoreportthatasingleunarmedmanhadwipedthefloorwiththewholelotofthem，andthenescapedthemaseasilyasthoughtheyhadnotexisted。
Theofficerwhohadremainedinthestreetsworethatnoonehadleapedfromthewindoworleftthebuildingfromthetimetheyentereduntiltheyhadcomeout。Hiscomradesthoughtthathelied，buttheycouldnotproveit。
WhenTarzanfoundhimselfclingingtothepoleoutsidethewindow，hefollowedhisjungleinstinctandlookedbelowforenemiesbeforeheventureddown。Itwaswellhedid，forjustbeneathstoodapoliceman。Above，Tarzansawnoone，sohewentupinsteadofdown。
Thetopofthepolewasoppositetheroofofthebuilding，soitwasbuttheworkofaninstantforthemusclesthathadforyearssenthimhurtlingthroughthetreetopsofhisprimevalforesttocarryhimacrossthelittlespacebetweenthepoleandtheroof。Fromonebuildinghewenttoanother，andsoon，withmuchclimbing，untilatacrossstreethediscoveredanotherpole，downwhichherantotheground。
Forasquareortwoheranswiftly;thenheturnedintoalittleall—nightcafeandinthelavatoryremovedtheevidencesofhisover—roofpromenadefromhandsandclothes。
Whenheemergedafewmomentslateritwastosaunterslowlyontowardhisapartments。
Notfarfromthemhecametoawell—lightedboulevardwhichitwasnecessarytocross。Ashestooddirectlybeneathabrilliantarclight，waitingforalimousinethatwasapproachingtopasshim，heheardhisnamecalledinasweetfemininevoice。Lookingup，hemetthesmilingeyesofOlgadeCoudeassheleanedforwarduponthebackseatofthemachine。
Hebowedverylowinresponsetoherfriendlygreeting。
Whenhestraightenedupthemachinehadborneheraway。
"RokoffandtheCountessdeCoudebothinthesameevening，"hesoliloquized;"Parisisnotsolarge，afterall。"
Chapter4
TheCountessExplains"YourParisismoredangerousthanmysavagejungles，Paul，"concludedTarzan，afternarratinghisadventurestohisfriendthemorningfollowinghisencounterwiththeapachesandpoliceintheRueMaule。"Whydidtheyluremethere？Weretheyhungry？"
D’Arnotfeignedahorrifiedshudder，buthelaughedatthequaintsuggestion。
"Itisdifficulttoriseabovethejunglestandardsandreasonbythelightofcivilizedways，isitnot，myfriend？"hequeriedbanteringly。
"Civilizedways，forsooth，"scoffedTarzan。"Junglestandardsdonotcountenancewantonatrocities。Therewekillforfoodandforself—preservation，orinthewinningofmatesandtheprotectionoftheyoung。Always，yousee，inaccordancewiththedictatesofsomegreatnaturallaw。
Buthere！Faugh，yourcivilizedmanismorebrutalthanthebrutes。Hekillswantonly，and，worsethanthat，heutilizesanoblesentiment，thebrotherhoodofman，asaluretoenticehisunwaryvictimtohisdoom。ItwasinanswertoanappealfromafellowbeingthatIhastenedtothatroomwheretheassassinslayinwaitforme。
"Ididnotrealize，Icouldnotrealizeforalongtimeafterward，thatanywomancouldsinktosuchmoraldepravityasthatonemusthavetocallawould—berescuertodeath。
Butitmusthavebeenso——thesightofRokoffthereandthewoman’slaterrepudiationofmetothepolicemakeitimpossibletoplaceanyotherconstructionuponheracts。
RokoffmusthaveknownthatIfrequentlypassedthroughtheRueMaule。Helayinwaitforme——hisentireschemeworkedouttothelastdetail，eventothewoman’sstoryincaseahitchshouldoccurintheprogramsuchasreallydidhappen。Itisallperfectlyplaintome。"
"Well，"saidD’Arnot，"amongotherthings，ithastaughtyouwhatIhavebeenunabletoimpressuponyou——thattheRueMauleisagoodplacetoavoidafterdark。"
"Onthecontrary，"repliedTarzan，withasmile，"ithasconvincedmethatitistheoneworth—whilestreetinallParis。NeveragainshallImissanopportunitytotraverseit，forithasgivenmethefirstrealentertainmentIhavehadsinceIleftAfrica。"
"Itmaygiveyoumorethanyouwillrelishevenwithoutanothervisit，"saidD’Arnot。"Youarenotthroughwiththepoliceyet，remember。IknowtheParispolicewellenoughtoassureyouthattheywillnotsoonforgetwhatyoudidtothem。Soonerorlatertheywillgetyou，mydearTarzan，andthentheywilllockthewildmanofthewoodsupbehindironbars。Howwillyoulikethat？"
"TheywillneverlockTarzanoftheApesbehindironbars，"
repliedhe，grimly。
Therewassomethingintheman’svoiceashesaiditthatcausedD’Arnottolookupsharplyathisfriend。Whathesawinthesetjawandthecold，grayeyesmadetheyoungFrenchmanveryapprehensiveforthisgreatchild，whocouldrecognizenolawmightierthanhisownmightyphysicalprowess。HesawthatsomethingmustbedonetosetTarzanrightwiththepolicebeforeanotherencounterwaspossible。
"Youhavemuchtolearn，Tarzan，"hesaidgravely。"Thelawofmanmustberespected，whetheryourelishitorno。
Nothingbuttroublecancometoyouandyourfriendsshouldyoupersistindefyingthepolice。Icanexplainittothemonceforyou，andthatIshalldothisveryday，buthereafteryoumustobeythelaw。Ifitsrepresentativessay`Come，’youmustcome;iftheysay`Go，’youmustgo。
NowweshallgotomygreatfriendinthedepartmentandfixupthismatteroftheRueMaule。Come！"
Togethertheyenteredtheofficeofthepoliceofficialahalfhourlater。Hewasverycordial。HerememberedTarzanfromthevisitthetwohadmadehimseveralmonthspriorinthematteroffingerprints。
WhenD’Arnothadconcludedthenarrationoftheeventswhichhadtranspiredthepreviousevening，agrimsmilewasplayingaboutthelipsofthepoliceman。Hetouchedabuttonnearhishand，andashewaitedfortheclerktorespondtoitssummonshesearchedthroughthepapersonhisdeskforonewhichhefinallylocated。
"Here，Joubon，"hesaidastheclerkentered。"Summontheseofficers——havethemcometomeatonce，"andhehandedthemanthepaperhehadsought。ThenheturnedtoTarzan。
"Youhavecommittedaverygraveoffense，monsieur，"hesaid，notunkindly，"andbutfortheexplanationmadebyourgoodfriendhereIshouldbeinclinedtojudgeyouharshly。
Iam，instead，abouttodoaratherunheard—of—thing。
Ihavesummonedtheofficerswhomyoumaltreatedlastnight。
TheyshallhearLieutenantD’Arnot’sstory，andthenIshallleaveittotheirdiscretiontosaywhetheryoushallbeprosecutedornot。
"Youhavemuchtolearnaboutthewaysofcivilization。
Thingsthatseemstrangeorunnecessarytoyou，youmustlearntoacceptuntilyouareabletojudgethemotivesbehindthem。Theofficerswhomyouattackedwerebutdoingtheirduty。Theyhadnodiscretioninthematter。Everydaytheyrisktheirlivesintheprotectionofthelivesorpropertyofothers。Theywoulddothesameforyou。Theyareverybravemen，andtheyaredeeplymortifiedthatasingleunarmedmanbestedandbeatthem。
"Makeiteasyforthemtooverlookwhatyoudid。
UnlessIamgravelyinerroryouareyourselfaverybraveman，andbravemenareproverbiallymagnanimous。"
Furtherconversationwasinterruptedbytheappearanceofthefourpolicemen。AstheireyesfellonTarzan，surprisewaswritlargeoneachcountenance。
"Mychildren，"saidtheofficial，"hereisthegentlemanwhomyoumetintheRueMaulelastevening。Hehascomevoluntarilytogivehimselfup。IwishyoutolistenattentivelytoLieutenantD’Arnot，whowilltellyouapartofthestoryofmonsieur’slife。Itmayexplainhisattitudetowardyouoflastnight。Proceed，mydearlieutenant。"
D’Arnotspoketothepolicemenforhalfanhour。HetoldthemsomethingofTarzan’swildjunglelife。Heexplainedthesavagetrainingthathadtaughthimtobattlelikeawildbeastinself—preservation。Itbecameplaintothemthatthemanhadbeenguidedbyinstinctratherthanreasoninhisattackuponthem。Hehadnotunderstoodtheirintentions。
Tohimtheyhadbeenlittledifferentfromanyofthevariousformsoflifehehadbeenaccustomedtoinhisnativejungle，wherepracticallyallwerehisenemies。
"Yourpridehasbeenwounded，"saidD’Arnot，inconclusion。
"Itisthefactthatthismanovercameyouthathurtsthemost。
Butyouneedfeelnoshame。YouwouldnotmakeapologiesfordefeathadyoubeenpennedinthatsmallroomwithanAfricanlion，orwiththegreatGorillaofthejungles。
"Andyetyouwerebattlingwithmusclesthathavetimeandtimeagainbeenpitted，andalwaysvictoriously，againsttheseterrorsofthedarkcontinent。ItisnodisgracetofallbeneaththesuperhumanstrengthofTarzanoftheApes。"
Andthen，asthemenstoodlookingfirstatTarzanandthenattheirsuperiortheape—mandidtheonethingwhichwasneededtoerasethelastremnantofanimositywhichtheymighthavefeltforhim。Withoutstretchedhandheadvancedtowardthem。
"IamsorryforthemistakeImade，"hesaidsimply。"Letusbefriends。"Andthatwastheendofthewholematter，exceptthatTarzanbecameasubjectofmuchconversationinthebarracksofthepolice，andincreasedthenumberofhisfriendsbyfourbravemenatleast。
OntheirreturntoD’Arnot’sapartmentsthelieutenantfoundaletterawaitinghimfromanEnglishfriend，WilliamCecilClayton，LordGreystoke。Thetwohadmaintainedacorrespondencesincethebirthoftheirfriendshiponthatill—fatedexpeditioninsearchofJanePorterafterhertheftbyTerkoz，thebullape。
"TheyaretobemarriedinLondoninabouttwomonths，"
saidD’Arnot，ashecompletedhisperusaloftheletter。
Tarzandidnotneedtobetoldwhowasmeantby"they。"
Hemadenoreply，buthewasveryquietandthoughtfulduringthebalanceoftheday。
Thateveningtheyattendedtheopera。Tarzan’smindwasstilloccupiedbyhisgloomythoughts。Hepaidlittleornoattentiontowhatwastranspiringuponthestage。InsteadhesawonlythelovelyvisionofabeautifulAmericangirl，andheardnaughtbutasad，sweetvoiceacknowledgingthathislovewasreturned。Andshewastomarryanother！
Heshookhimselftoberidofhisunwelcomethoughts，andatthesameinstanthefelteyesuponhim。Withtheinstinctthatwashisbyvirtueoftraininghelookedupsquarelyintotheeyesthatwerelookingathim，tofindthattheywereshiningfromthesmilingfaceofOlga，CountessdeCoude。AsTarzanreturnedherbowhewaspositivethattherewasaninvitationinherlook，almostaplea。
Thenextintermissionfoundhimbesideherinherbox。
"Ihavesomuchwishedtoseeyou，"shewassaying。
"Ithastroubledmenotalittletothinkthataftertheserviceyourenderedtobothmyhusbandandmyselfnoadequateexplanationwasevermadeyouofwhatmusthaveseemedingratitudeonourpartinnottakingthenecessarystepstopreventarepetitionoftheattacksuponusbythosetwomen。"
"Youwrongme，"repliedTarzan。"Mythoughtsofyouhavebeenonlythemostpleasant。Youmustnotfeelthatanyexplanationisdueme。Havetheyannoyedyoufurther？"
"Theynevercease，"sherepliedsadly。"IfeelthatImusttellsomeone，andIdonotknowanotherwhosodeservesanexplanationasyou。Youmustpermitmetodoso。Itmaybeofservicetoyou，forIknowNikolasRokoffquitewellenoughtobepositivethatyouhavenotseenthelastofhim。
Hewillfindsomemeanstoberevengeduponyou。WhatI
wishtotellyoumaybeofaidtoyouincombatinganyschemeofrevengehemayharbor。Icannottellyouhere，buttomorrowIshallbeathometoMonsieurTarzanatfive。"
"Itwillbeaneternityuntiltomorrowatfive，"hesaid，ashebadehergoodnight。
FromacornerofthetheaterRokoffandPaulvitchsawMonsieurTarzanintheboxoftheCountessdeCoude，andbothmensmiled。
Atfour—thirtythefollowingafternoonaswarthy，beardedmanrangthebellattheservants’entranceofthepalaceoftheCountdeCoude。Thefootmanwhoopenedthedoorraisedhiseyebrowsinrecognitionashesawwhostoodwithout。
Alowconversationpassedbetweenthetwo。
Atfirstthefootmandemurredfromsomepropositionthatthebeardedonemade，butaninstantlatersomethingpassedfromthehandofthecallertothehandoftheservant。Thenthelatterturnedandledthevisitorbyaroundaboutwaytoalittlecurtainedalcoveofftheapartmentinwhichthecountesswaswonttoserveteaofanafternoon。
AhalfhourlaterTarzanwasusheredintotheroom，andpresentlyhishostessentered，smiling，andwithoutstretchedhands。
"Iamsogladthatyoucame，"shesaid。
"Nothingcouldhaveprevented，"hereplied。
Forafewmomentstheyspokeoftheopera，ofthetopicsthatwerethenoccupyingtheattentionofParis，ofthepleasureofrenewingtheirbriefacquaintancewhichhadhaditsinceptionundersuchoddcircumstances，andthisbroughtthemtothesubjectthatwasuppermostinthemindsofboth。
"Youmusthavewondered，"saidthecountessfinally，"whattheobjectofRokoff’spersecutioncouldbe。Itisverysimple。
Thecountisintrustedwithmanyofthevitalsecretsoftheministryofwar。Heoftenhasinhispossessionpapersthatforeignpowerswouldgiveafortunetopossess——secretsofstatethattheiragentswouldcommitmurderandworsethanmurdertolearn。
"ThereissuchamatternowinhispossessionthatwouldmakethefameandfortuneofanyRussianwhocoulddivulgeittohisgovernment。RokoffandPaulvitchareRussianspies。Theywillstopatnothingtoprocurethisinformation。Theaffairontheliner——Imeanthematterofthecardgame——wasforthepurposeofblackmailingtheknowledgetheyseekfrommyhusband。
"Hadhebeenconvictedofcheatingatcards，hiscareerwouldhavebeenblighted。Hewouldhavehadtoleavethewardepartment。Hewouldhavebeensociallyostracized。
Theyintendedtoholdthiscluboverhim——thepriceofanavowalontheirpartthatthecountwasbutthevictimoftheplotofenemieswhowishedtobesmirchhisnamewastohavebeenthepaperstheyseek。
"Youthwartedtheminthis。Thentheyconcoctedtheschemewherebymyreputationwastobetheprice，insteadofthecount’s。WhenPaulvitchenteredmycabinheexplainedittome。IfIwouldobtaintheinformationforthemhepromisedtogonofarther，otherwiseRokoff，whostoodwithout，wastonotifythepurserthatIwasentertainingamanotherthanmyhusbandbehindthelockeddoorsofmycabin。Hewastotelleveryonehemetontheboat，andwhenwelandedhewastohavegiventhewholestorytothenewspapermen。
"Wasitnottoohorrible？ButIhappenedtoknowsomethingofMonsieurPaulvitchthatwouldsendhimtothegallowsinRussiaifitwereknownbythepoliceofSt。Petersburg。
Idaredhimtocarryouthisplan，andthenIleanedtowardhimandwhisperedanameinhisear。Likethat"——andshesnappedherfingers——"heflewatmythroatasamadman。
Hewouldhavekilledmehadyounotinterfered。"
"Thebrutes！"mutteredTarzan。
"Theyareworsethanthat，myfriend，"shesaid。
"Theyaredevils。Ifearforyoubecauseyouhavegainedtheirhatred。Iwishyoutobeonyourguardconstantly。
Tellmethatyouwill，formysake，forIshouldneverforgivemyselfshouldyousufferthroughthekindnessyoudidme。"
"Idonotfearthem，"hereplied。"IhavesurvivedgrimmerenemiesthanRokoffandPaulvitch。"HesawthatsheknewnothingoftheoccurrenceintheRueMaule，nordidhementionit，fearingthatitmightdistressher。
"Foryourownsafety，"hecontinued，"whydoyounotturnthescoundrelsovertotheauthorities？Theyshouldmakequickworkofthem。"
Shehesitatedforamomentbeforereplying。
"Therearetworeasons，"shesaidfinally。"Oneofthemitisthatkeepsthecountfromdoingthatverything。
Theother，myrealreasonforfearingtoexposethem，Ihavenevertold——onlyRokoffandIknowit。Iwonder，"andthenshepaused，lookingintentlyathimforalongtime。
"Andwhatdoyouwonder？"heasked，smiling。
"IwaswonderingwhyitisthatIwanttotellyouthethingthatIhavenotdaredtelleventomyhusband。
Ibelievethatyouwouldunderstand，andthatyoucouldtellmetherightcoursetofollow。Ibelievethatyouwouldnotjudgemetooharshly。"
"IfearthatIshouldproveaverypoorjudge，madame，"
Tarzanreplied，"forifyouhadbeenguiltyofmurderI
shouldsaythatthevictimshouldbegratefultohavemetsosweetafate。"
"Oh，dear，no，"sheexpostulated;"itisnotsoterribleasthat。
Butfirstletmetellyouthereasonthecounthasfornotprosecutingthesemen;then，ifIcanholdmycourage，I
shalltellyoutherealreasonthatIdarenot。ThefirstisthatNikolasRokoffismybrother。WeareRussians。
NikolashasbeenabadmansinceIcanremember。HewascashieredfromtheRussianarmy，inwhichheheldacaptaincy。
Therewasascandalforatime，butafterawhileitwaspartiallyforgotten，andmyfatherobtainedapositionforhiminthesecretservice。
"TherehavebeenmanyterriblecrimeslaidatNikolas’door，buthehasalwaysmanagedtoescapepunishment。Oflatehehasaccomplisheditbytrumped—upevidenceconvictinghisvictimsoftreasonagainsttheczar，andtheRussianpolice，whoarealwaysonlytooreadytofastenguiltofthisnatureuponanyandall，haveacceptedhisversionandexoneratedhim。"
"Havenothisattemptedcrimesagainstyouandyourhusbandforfeitedwhateverrightsthebondsofkinshipmighthaveaccordedhim？"askedTarzan。"Thefactthatyouarehissisterhasnotdeterredhimfromseekingtobesmirchyourhonor。
Youowehimnoloyalty，madame。"
"Ah，butthereisthatotherreason。IfIowehimnoloyaltythoughhebemybrother，IcannotsoeasilydisavowthefearIholdhiminbecauseofacertainepisodeinmylifeofwhichheiscognizant。
"Imightaswelltellyouall，"sheresumedafterapause，"forIseethatitisinmyhearttotellyousoonerorlater。
Iwaseducatedinaconvent。WhilethereImetamanwhomIsupposedtobeagentleman。Iknewlittleornothingaboutmenandlessaboutlove。IgotitintomyfoolishheadthatIlovedthisman，andathisurgentrequestIranawaywithhim。
Weweretohavebeenmarried。
"Iwaswithhimjustthreehours。Allinthedaytimeandinpublicplaces——railroadstationsanduponatrain。
Whenwereachedourdestinationwhereweweretohavebeenmarried，twoofficerssteppeduptomyescortaswedescendedfromthetrain，andplacedhimunderarrest。Theytookmealso，butwhenIhadtoldmystorytheydidnotdetainme，otherthantosendmebacktotheconventunderthecareofamatron。Itseemedthatthemanwhohadwooedmewasnogentlemanatall，butadeserterfromthearmyaswellasafugitivefromciviljustice。HehadapolicerecordinnearlyeverycountryinEurope。
"Thematterwashushedupbytheauthoritiesoftheconvent。
Notevenmyparentsknewofit。ButNikolasmetthemanafterward，andlearnedthewholestory。NowhethreatenstotellthecountifIdonotdojustashewishesmeto。"
Tarzanlaughed。"Youarestillbutalittlegirl。Thestorythatyouhavetoldmecannotreflectinanywayuponyourreputation，andwereyounotalittlegirlatheartyouwouldknowit。Gotoyourhusbandtonight，andtellhimthewholestory，justasyouhavetoldittome。UnlessIammuchmistakenhewilllaughatyouforyourfears，andtakeimmediatestepstoputthatpreciousbrotherofyoursinprisonwherehebelongs。"
"IonlywishthatIdared，"shesaid;"butIamafraid。
Ilearnedearlytofearmen。Firstmyfather，thenNikolas，thenthefathersintheconvent。Nearlyallmyfriendsfeartheirhusbands——whyshouldInotfearmine？"
"Itdoesnotseemrightthatwomenshouldfearmen，"
saidTarzan，anexpressionofpuzzlementonhisface。
"Iambetteracquaintedwiththejunglefolk，andthereitismoreoftentheotherwayaround，exceptamongtheblackmen，andtheytomymindareinmostwayslowerinthescalethanthebeasts。No，Icannotunderstandwhycivilizedwomenshouldfearmen，thebeingsthatarecreatedtoprotectthem。
Ishouldhatetothinkthatanywomanfearedme。"
"Idonotthinkthatanywomanwouldfearyou，myfriend，"
saidOlgadeCoudesoftly。"Ihaveknownyoubutashortwhile，yetthoughitmayseemfoolishtosayit，youaretheonlymanIhaveeverknownwhomIthinkthatIshouldneverfear——itisstrange，too，foryouareverystrong。
IwonderedattheeasewithwhichyouhandledNikolasandPaulvitchthatnightinmycabin。Itwasmarvellous。"
AsTarzanwasleavingherashorttimelaterhewonderedalittleattheclingingpressureofherhandatparting，andthefirminsistencewithwhichsheexactedapromisefromhimthathewouldcallagainonthemorrow。
Thememoryofherhalf—veiledeyesandperfectlipsasshehadstoodsmilingupintohisfaceashebadehergood—byremainedwithhimforthebalanceoftheday。OlgadeCoudewasaverybeautifulwoman，andTarzanoftheApesaverylonelyyoungman，withaheartinhimthatwasinneedofthedoctoringthatonlyawomanmayprovide。
AsthecountessturnedbackintotheroomafterTarzan’sdeparture，shefoundherselffacetofacewithNikolasRokoff。
"Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？"shecried，shrinkingawayfromhim。
"Sincebeforeyourlovercame，"heanswered，withanastyleer。
"Stop！"shecommanded。"Howdareyousaysuchathingtome——yoursister！"
"Well，mydearOlga，ifheisnotyourlover，acceptmyapologies;butitisnofaultofyoursthatheisnot。
Hadheone—tenththeknowledgeofwomenthatIhaveyouwouldbeinhisarmsthisminute。Heisastupidfool，Olga。
Why，youreverywordandactwasanopeninvitationtohim，andhehadnotthesensetoseeit。"
Thewomanputherhandstoherears。
"Iwillnotlisten。Youarewickedtosaysuchthingsasthat。
Nomatterwhatyoumaythreatenmewith，youknowthatI
amagoodwoman。Aftertonightyouwillnotdaretoannoyme，forIshalltellRaoulall。Hewillunderstand，andthen，MonsieurNikolas，beware！"
"Youshalltellhimnothing，"saidRokoff。"Ihavethisaffairnow，andwiththehelpofoneofyourservantswhomImaytrustitwilllacknothinginthetellingwhenthetimecomesthatthedetailsoftheswornevidenceshallbepouredintoyourhusband’sears。Theotheraffairserveditspurposewell——wenowhavesomethingtangibletoworkon，Olga。ArealAFFAIR——
andyouatrustedwife。Shame，Olga，"andthebrutelaughed。
Sothecountesstoldhercountnothing，andmatterswereworsethantheyhadbeen。Fromavaguefearhermindwastransferredtoaverytangibleone。Itmaybe，too，thatconsciencehelpedtoenlargeitoutofallproportion。
Chapter5
ThePlotThatFailedForamonthTarzanwasaregularandverywelcomedevoteeattheshrineofthebeautifulCountessdeCoude。
Oftenhemetothermembersoftheselectlittlecoteriethatdroppedinforteaofanafternoon。MoreoftenOlgafounddevicesthatwouldgiveheranhourofTarzanalone。
ForatimeshehadbeenfrightenedbywhatNikolashadinsinuated。Shehadnotthoughtofthisbig，youngmanasanythingmorethanfriend，butwiththesuggestionimplantedbytheevilwordsofherbrothershehadgrowntospeculatemuchuponthestrangeforcewhichseemedtoattracthertowardthegray—eyedstranger。Shedidnotwishtolovehim，nordidshewishhislove。
Shewasmuchyoungerthanherhusband，andwithouthavingrealizeditshehadbeencravingthehavenofafriendshipwithonenearerherownage。Twentyisshyinexchangingconfidenceswithforty。Tarzanwasbuttwoyearshersenior。Hecouldunderstandher，shefelt。Thenhewascleanandhonorableandchivalrous。Shewasnotafraidofhim。Thatshecouldtrusthimshehadfeltinstinctivelyfromthefirst。
FromadistanceRokoffhadwatchedthisgrowingintimacywithmaliciousglee。EversincehehadlearnedthatTarzanknewthathewasaRussianspytherehadbeenaddedtohishatredfortheape—managreatfearthathewouldexposehim。Hewasbutwaitingnowuntilthemomentwaspropitiousforamasterstroke。HewantedtoridhimselfforeverofTarzan，andatthesametimereapanamplerevengeforthehumiliationsanddefeatsthathehadsufferedathishands。
TarzanwasnearertocontentmentthanhehadbeensincethepeaceandtranquilityofhisjunglehadbeenbrokeninuponbytheadventofthemaroonedPorterparty。HeenjoyedthepleasantsocialintercoursewithOlga’sfriends，whilethefriendshipwhichhadsprungupbetweenthefaircountessandhimselfwasasourceofnever—endingdelight。Itbrokeinuponanddispersedhisgloomythoughts，andservedasabalmtohislaceratedheart。
SometimesD’ArnotaccompaniedhimonhisvisitstotheDeCoudehome，forhehadlongknownbothOlgaandthecount。OccasionallyDeCoudedroppedin，butthemultitudinousaffairsofhisofficialpositionandthenever—endingdemandsofpoliticskepthimfromhomeusuallyuntillateatnight。
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