\"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。