"You have spoken of your father's will. Well, your solicitors may make
the offer, but I shall refuse."
"You will refuse!" cried Liane, joyously.
"Yes," she answered, smiling in contentment. "I shall refuse because I
am already engaged to marry Max, the man whose words have cleared your
father, and whose evidence will convict the man who has held you so long
beneath the thrall of terror."
"You are to marry Max!" Liane exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes. We have known each other some years now, and as I have recently
won sufficient money which, invested, will bring us in a modest income,
we have agreed to marry and relinquish gambling. One of our promises to
each other is that after marriage neither of us shall enter the Casino
on any pretext whatsoever. I shall certainly keep it, and I feel
assured that Max will."
"I'm sure you have our heartiest congratulations," Captain Brooker said,
smiling. "I've known Max a long time, and although once he has been one
of us and an outsider, he is, nevertheless, at heart a gentleman."
Mariette, known as "The Golden Hand," and believed by _habitues_ of
Monte Carlo to be thoroughly unscrupulous, and an adventuress of the
very worst type, was now an entirely different person to the woman who
flung down her gold so recklessly upon the tables. Her life had not
been altogether blameless, nevertheless there was still sufficient
generosity, tenderness, and love within her heart to render her a
devoted wife with a man who would love and cherish her.
"Make your offer to marry me as soon as you wish," she laughed. "You
know what my reply will be."
"A reply," he said, "that will bring me fifty thousand pounds."
"You are indeed my friend, Mariette," Liane said, stretching forth her
hand. "Forgive me for believing that you were my enemy."