Pope fancied the girl herself flushed under his inquiring eye; at any rate, her gaze wavered and she seemed vexed by her mother's explanation. He, too, resented Mrs. Knight's share in the conversation. He did not like the elder woman's face, nor her voice, nor her manner. She impressed him as another theatrical type with which he was familiar--the stage mama. He found himself marveling at the dissimilarity of the two women. "Of course, a famous beauty does meet a lot of people," he said. "Tell me what you think of our nourishing little city and our New York men." But Lorelei raised a slender hand. "Not for worlds. Besides, you're making fun of me now. I was afraid to see you, and I'd feel terribly if you printed anything I really told you. Good interviewers never do that. They come and talk about nothing, then go away and put the most brilliant things into your mouth. You are considered a very dangerous person, Mr. Pope." "You're thinking of my story about that Demorest woman again," he laughed. "Is she really as bad as you described her?" "I don't know, never having met the lady. I wouldn't humiliate myself by a personal interview, so I built a story on the Broadway gossip. Inasmuch as she goes in for notoriety, I gave her some of the best I had in stock. Her photographer did the rest." The door curtains parted, and Lilas Lynn, a slim, black-eyed young woman, entered. She greeted Pope cordially as she removed her hat and handed it to the woman who acted as dresser for the two occupants of the room. "I'm late, as usual," she said. "But don't leave on my account." She disappeared into the lavatory, and emerged a moment later in a combing-jacket; seating herself before her own mirrors, she dove into a cosmetic can and vigorously applied a priming coat to her features, while the dresser drew her hair back and secured it tightly with a wig-band. "Lorelei's got her nerve to talk to you after the panning you gave Demorest," she continued. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself to strike a defenseless star?" Pope nodded. "I am, and I'm ashamed of my entire sex when I hear of them flocking to the Palace Garden just to see a woman who has nothing to distinguish her but a reputation for vileness." "Did you see the crown jewels--the King's Cabachon rubies?" Lorelei asked. "Only from the front. I dare say they're as counterfeit as she is." Miss Lynn turned, revealing a countenance as shiny as that of an Eskimo belle. With her war-paint only half applied and her hair secured closely to her small head, she did not in the least resemble the dashing "Countess" of the program. "Oh, they're real enough. I got that straight." Campbell Pope scoffed. "Isn't it true about the King of Seldovia? Didn't she wreck his throne?" eagerly queried Mrs. Knight. "I never met the King, and I haven't examined his throne. But, you know, kings can do no wrong, and thrones are easily mended."