It pleased her to find this weakness in the pride of the invincible Donnegan. It gave her a secure feeling of mastery. So she controlled her smile and looked with a sort of superior kindliness upon the red-headed little man. "It's no good," Nelly Lebrun said with a sigh. "Even if he were taken away--and then it would get you into a bad mess." "Would it? Worse than I'm in?" "Hush! Lord Nick is coming to The Corner; and no matter what you've done so far--I think I could quiet him. But if you were to take Landis away--then nothing could stop him." Donnegan sneered. "I begin to think Lord Nick is a bogie," he said. "Everyone whispers when they speak of him." He leaned forward. "I should like to meet him, Nelly Lebrun!" It staggered Nelly. "Do you mean that?" she cried softly. "I do." She caught her breath and then a spark of deviltry gleamed. "I wonder!" said Nelly Lebrun, and her glance weighed Donnegan. "All I ask is a fair chance," he said. "He is a big man," said the girl maliciously. The never-failing blush burned in the face of Donnegan. "A large target is more easily hit," he said through his teeth. Her thoughts played back and forth in her eyes. "I can't do it," she said. Donnegan played a random card. "I was mistaken," he said darkly. "Jack was not the man I should have faced. Lord Nick!" "No, no, no, Mr. Donnegan!" "You can't persuade me. Well, I was a fool not to guess it!" "I really think," said the girl gloomily, "that as soon as Lord Nick comes, you'll hunt him out!" He bowed to her with cold politeness. "In spite of his size," said Donnegan through his teeth once more. And at this the girl's face softened and grew merry. "I'm going to help you to take Jack away," she said, "on one condition." "And that?" "That you won't make a step toward Lord Nick when he comes." "I shall not avoid him," said Donnegan. "You're unreasonable! Well, not avoid him, but simply not provoke him. I'll arrange it so that Lord Nick won't come hunting trouble." "And he'll let Jack stay with the girl and her father?" "Perhaps he'll persuade them to let him go of their own free will." Donnegan thought of the colonel and smiled. "In that case, of course, I shouldn't care at all." He added: "But do you mean all this?" "You shall see." They talked only a moment longer and then Donnegan left the hall with the girl on his arm. Certainly the thoughts of all in Milligan's followed that pair; and it was seen that Donnegan took her to the door of her house and then went away through the town and up the hill. And big George followed him like a shadow cast from a lantern behind a man walking in a fog.