"What's the use of that to me? You touched my lips. Oh, I could tear them!" she cried desperately. "Will you hear my excuse?" "There's no excuse. Nothing--nothing will ever make me forget it. Oh, the shame of it!" Here bitter tears again welled to her eyes. The man was moved by her extremity. "I am so very sorry. I wouldn't have had it happen for anything. I didn't know you were in the least like this." "Why not? If you had met me as I was before I came here there might have been the shadow of an excuse. Do you usually behave to girls you meet at friends' houses like you did to me?" "In friends' houses?" he asked, emphasising the word "friends." "You heard what I said?" "This is scarcely a friend's house." "Why not?" "Eh?" "Why not? Why not? Can't you tell me?" "But--" "Why not? Why not? Answer!" "Is it possible?" "Is what possible?" "You don't know the house you're in?" "What house?" she asked wildly. The look of terror, of fear, which accompanied this question was enough to dissipate any doubts of the girl's honesty which may have lingered in the man's mind. "How long have you been here?" "Three hours." "And you don't know what Mrs Hamilton is?" "No." "What?" he cried excitedly. "Tell me! Tell me!" "Just tell me how you met her." She told him in short words; she was reluctant to make a confidant of the man who had ravished her lips; she was dimly conscious that he may have had a remote excuse for his behaviour. When she had done, he said: "Mrs Hamilton is one of the worst women in London. She'd have been 'run in' long ago if she weren't so rich and if her clients weren't so influential." Mavis looked at him wide-eyed. "That chap at dinner, didn't, you know he was Lord Kegworth? If you don't, you must have heard of the rotten life he's led." "But--" stammered Mavis. "Have you seen any photographs since you've been here?" "Just now--these." "She's their agent, go between. Here! What am I telling you? You can thank your stars you've met me." Mavis's frightened eyes looked into his. "I'm going to get you out of it." "You?" "There's not a moment to lose. Get on your things and clear out." "But Mrs Hamilton--" "She's busy for a moment. Slip on something over your dress and join me outside the drawing-room. If anyone interferes with you, shout." "But--" "Do as I tell you. Hang it! I must do something to try and make up for my blackguard behaviour."