He could not see the wild look that threw her eyes and lips wide. She had never dreamed of such an acquaintance. The mere possibility of it set her brain whirling. It seemed to explain many things, explain them with a horrible clarity. She dared not reveal her suspicions to Nicky. She said nothing till she heard him speak again: "Vell, you come, yes?" "Where?" "You could come here best?" "No, it's too far." "By Baltimore we could meet once?" "All right. Where? When?" "To-morrow. I do not know Baltimore good. Ve could take ride by automobile and talk so. Yes?" "All right." This a little anxiously. "To-morrow evening. I remember it is a train gets there from Vashington about eight. I meet you. Make sure nobody sees you take that train, yes?" "Yes." "You know people follow people sometimes." "Yes." "I trust you alvays, Marie Louise." "All right. Good-by." "Goot-py, Marie Louise." CHAPTER II While Mamise was talking her telephone ear had suffered several sharp and painful rasps, as if angry rattlesnakes had wakened in the receiver. The moment she put it up the bell rang. Supposing that Nicky had some postscript to add, she lifted the receiver again. Her ear was as bewildered as your tongue when it expects to taste one thing and tastes another, for it was Davidge's voice that spoke, asking for her. She called him by name, and he growled: "Good Lord! is that you? Who was the fascinating stranger who kept me waiting so long?" "Don't you wish you knew?" she laughed. "Where are you now? At the shipyard?" "No, I'm in Washington--ran up on business. Can I see you to-night?" "I hope so--unless we're going out--as I believe we are. Hold the wire, won't you, while I ask." She came back in due season to say, "Polly says you are to come to dinner and go to a dance with us afterward." "A dance? I'm not invited." "It's a kind of club affair at a hotel. Polly has the right to take you--no end of big bugs will be there." "I'm rusty on dancing, but with you--" "Thanks. We'll expect you, then. Dinner is at eight. Wrap up well. It's cold, isn't it?" He thought it divine of her to think of his comfort. The thought of her in his arms dancing set his heart to rioting. He was singing as he dressed, and as he rode put to Grinden Hall, singing a specimen of the new musical insanity known as "jazz"--so pestilential a music that even the fiddlers capered and writhed. The Potomac was full of tumultuous ice, and the old Rosslyn bridge squealed with cold under the motor. It was good to see the lights of the Hall at last, and to thaw himself out at the huge fireplace. "Lucky to get a little wood," said Major Widdicombe. "Don't know what we'll do when it's gone. Coal is next to impossible." Then the women came down, Polly and Mamise and two or three other house guests, and some wives of important people. They laid off their wraps and then decided to keep them on.