"Exactly what was to be expected," declared Lilienfeld. "Pardon me if I give you a bit of advice. In the first place, be perfectly easy in your mind about Webster and Forster's attempts to intimidate you. For various reasons the contract with Mr. Hahlstroem is legally invalid. It so happens that I have pretty accurate information regarding the terms of the divorce between your father and mother. They themselves told me, and what is more, my brother was counsel for your father. Your mother was made your legal guardian. Your father had no right to make a contract for you. You ran away. You went with your father because you were devoted to him body and soul and the relation between you and your mother may not have been quite so pleasant. I do not hesitate to say you acted wisely, very wisely. Your father's training has made a great artist of you." "Thank you," Ingigerd laughed, at the mere memory of her training involuntarily protesting against her artistic education. "For hours at a time, while he sat in a chair comfortably smoking his meerschaum, I had to dance for him without a stitch of clothing on and perform all sorts of contortions and acrobatic feats on a rug. In the afternoon he would play the piano and I would have to go through the same thing all over again." "Your father was a positive marvel as a trainer. He put two or three international stars on their dancing legs, if you will permit the expression. He was the dancing master of two worlds and"--the impresario laughed significantly--"many other interesting things besides. But to stick to the matter in hand--if you want, your contract with Webster and Forster is null and void." He paused for an instant and began again, this time addressing himself more to Frederick. "I do not deny that I am a business man--always within the limits of gentlemanliness--and I should like to ask you a question, Doctor von Kammacher. Is it your intention to let Miss Hahlstroem dance at all again, or have you and she decided that she is to retire to private life?" "Oh, no," said Ingigerd very decidedly. Frederick felt something like cold iron enter his soul. He seemed to himself to be a sword-swallower unable immediately to extract the steel from his body. "No, we have not," he, too, said, "though I for my part should like Miss Hahlstroem to give up the stage because she has a delicate constitution. But she maintains she needs the sensation of it. And when I see the offers she receives, I do not know whether I have the right to persuade her against her will." "Don't, Doctor von Kammacher, don't!" cried Mr. Lilienfeld. "Miss Hahlstroem, Doctor von Kammacher, let me take up the cudgels for you against Webster and Forster--bloodsuckers, I tell you--and they've insulted the lady, besides. I assure you, they are the source of a lot of vile rumours about her."