"Hello!" he said. "I think I've had the pleasure of meeting you somewhere before." Mary's mouth tightened. She had herself now well in hand. She shook her russet head. "I guess not," she said. But her voice betrayed her. "Good Lord!" said Beekman. The flush deepened on his face. With one hand he snatched his yachting-cap from his black hair; the other he suddenly held out to her, trembling. "Good Lord!" he repeated, this time with something that was nearly awe in his tone. "I--I--it's _Violet_! Will you----? Won't you _please_ shake hands?" Scarcely less amazed by his manner than was he by her appearance, she took his hand. Beekman turned to someone on the stairs behind him. "Get out, Mike!" he said. "I've found a friend." There was a plucking at his sleeve and the murmur of a concerned voice from the rear. "No," said Philip; "get out. I tell you that I have found a friend. Go down to the tall lady and hand her your money and then make tracks for the yacht. You may tell Mr. Payne that I shall return in an hour." Again a muffled protest from the dangerous stairway. "Pardon me a moment," said Beekman, and turned full around. "Now, then," he continued to his guide, "you get out. I am perfectly well able to take care of myself, and I want a private talk. Do you expect me to kick you downstairs? No? I should probably break your back if I did.--Then, good-night." He stood there while the deckhand's heavy feet clattered downward; waited until he had heard Big Lou grumblingly give Mike the means of exit, and then he turned again to Mary. "What," he rapidly began, and his handsome face grew once more earnest, "what in the name of heaven are you doing in this den?--No," he continued, raising a quick hand; "don't tell me; I remember how I sent you out of my mother's house and, upon my word, I'm afraid to hear. I couldn't do anything else--but I don't know. Anyhow, there's one thing sure: you need money. Well, I made a little in the game to-night--not much for Payne, but a good slice for me--and it's yours--it's yours--the Lord knows it ought to go to you!" She had tried to stop him until he spoke of money; but when he mentioned that, she let him run on, let him search his pockets, and at last let him thrust something into her open hand. "Here," he said; "take it; take it as a favor to me; take it, and remember what I said to you in Rose's. Watch your chance; get out of here; and for God's sake go back to your own home." Her fingers closed upon the bills and transferred them to her stocking; and as she did this a movement on the floor made them both turn.