His opposition seemed only to anger her. "I know where I have business. I need no admonitions from you as to what places I enter. You are impertinent, insulting. Let me pass!" His stubborn opposition showed no signs of weakening before her resolve. "One question," he said, ignoring her angry words. "Have you ever been in these rooms before?" He thought she quailed the least bit before his searching look. She even hesitated as to what to say. But if her eyes fell momentarily it was only to collect herself. "Yes," she answered, looking up unflinchingly. Her resolute eyes supported her defiant word and openly challenged his interference, but he met her once more quietly. "I am sorry to hear it," he rejoined. "But that won't make any difference. You can't go in to-night." "I will go in," she cried. "No," he returned slowly, "you are not going in--not, at least, while I am here." They stood immovable. He tried to reason her out of her determination. She resented every word he offered. "You are most insolent," she exclaimed. "You are interfering in something that is no concern of yours. You have no right to act in this outrageous way. If you don't stand aside I'll call for help." "Nan!" De Spain spoke her name suddenly and threateningly. His words fell fast, and he checked her for an instant with his vehemence. "We met in the Gap a week ago. I said I was telling you the exact truth. Did I do it?" "I don't care what you said or what you did----" "Answer me," he said sharply, "did I tell you the truth?" "I don't know or care----" "Yes, you do know----" "What you say or do----" "I told you the truth then, I am telling it now. I will never see you enter a gambling-room as long as I can prevent it. Call for help if you like." She looked at him with amazement. She seemed about to speak--to make another protest. Instead, she turned suddenly away, hesitated again, put both her hands to her face, burst into tears, and hurried toward the stairs. De Spain followed her. "Let me take you to where you are going?" Nan turned on him, her eyes blazing through her tears, with a single, scornful, furious word: "No!" She quickened her step from him in such confusion that she ran into two men just reaching the top of the stairs. They separated with alacrity, and gave her passage. One of the men was Lefever, who, despite his size, was extremely nimble in getting out of her urgent way, and quick in lifting his hat. She fairly raced down the flight of steps, leaving Lefever looking after her in astonishment. He turned to de Spain: "Now, who the deuce was that?" De Spain ignored his question by asking another: "Did you find him?" Lefever shook his head. "Not a trace; I covered Main Street. I guess Bob was right. Nobody home here, Henry?" "Nobody we want." "Nothing going on?" "Not a thing. If you will wait here for Bob, I'll run over to the office and answer those telegrams."