Hildegarde was bewildered herself. What did it mean? What had Potter's words meant? Did they signify that he knew who Cantor was, had discovered her father's guilt? She held that fear, but put it away from her. It was something else, something she did not understand. "It means that he loves me," she said, piteously. "It looks as if it meant that you loved him.... Is that it? Have you been making a fool of me?... Tell me." "Love him?" she said, with a sudden intensity. "I love him with every breath I draw." Her voice broke and failed. "But it's no use--no use." Potter stirred, opened his eyes and shut them again, breathed heavily, and struggled to sit up. He peered about him dizzily, saw Cantor bending over him, looking down calculatingly. "I knew it was you," Potter said, queerly. "Was the 'plane smashed?... What are you doing here, Cantor? Where's Miss von Essen?" "I'm here, Potter," she said. "Are you hurt? Can you stand? Don't try to stand. Wait! Let me wet my handkerchief. There's water over on the green." She got up and hurried to the putting-green. Potter shook his head. "I thought--" he said, and stopped. "You were there," he said to himself. "I always thought you were there. I was sure I saw your face." In a moment his brain cleared and he remembered. "You dog!" he said, his eyes blazing as he tried to get to his feet. Cantor pushed him back. "Be quiet," he said, "or Philip will hand you another lesson. What do you mean, you fool, going around roaring like a lunatic and starting rows?" "Mean?... She told me." "Told you what?" "That she was--defiled.... That you--" Cantor laughed. He understood, and, being an opportunist, availed himself of the opportunity. "What's it to you?" he said. "Miss von Essen can choose her--friends.... What's there to rave about?... If a pretty girl throws herself at your head, do you call a policeman?" It was confirmation; the thing was past doubting. Potter got to his feet just as Hildegarde returned with her wetted handkerchief, which she would have applied to his wounded head, but he repulsed her, would not let her touch him, and stood wavering dizzily. "Just a moment," he said to Cantor, "and we'll finish this." Cantor smiled grimly. "Philip," he said, "I haven't any desire to brawl with this fellow." Philip came forward eagerly, the driver ready in his hands. "Don't, Potter," Hildegarde said. "Go away. You don't know these men. You don't know--" "Miss von Essen!" said Cantor, sharply. "There are two of them.... Go away, please.... And you're hurt." "You won't fight, man to man?" Potter said. "Why should I?" Cantor said.