"I enjoyed meeting your father so much, Miss Dangerfield. I think we are always likely to be afraid of great men, but your father made me feel at home at once. And he tells such capital stories--I've been laughing over them ever since I left New Orleans." "Father has quite a reputation for his stories. When did you leave New Orleans, Mr. Ardmore?" "Sunday night. I stopped in Atlanta a few hours and came on through. What a fine old town Atlanta is; don't you think so?" "I certainly do not, Mr. Ardmore. It's so dreadfully northernized." When she said "no'thenized" her intonation gave the word a fine cutting edge. "I suppose, Mr. Ardmore, that you saw papa at the luncheon at the Pharos Club in New Orleans?" "Why, yes, Miss Dangerfield. It was there I met the governor!" "Are you sure it was there, Mr. Ardmore?" "Why, I think that was the place. I don't know my New Orleans as I should, but--" Ardmore was suddenly conscious that Miss Dangerfield had risen and that she stood before him, with her fair face the least bit flushed, her blue eyes alight with anger, and that the hands at her sides were clenched nervously. "My father was not at luncheon at the Pharos Club, Mr. Ardmore. You never saw my father in your life. I know why it is you came here, and if you are not out of that door in one second I shall call the servants and have them throw you out." She ceased abruptly and turned to look into the hall where steps sounded. "Is that you, Jerry?" "Yes, mama; I'll be up in just a minute. Please don't wait for me. It's only the man to see about the plumbing." The lady who had appeared for an instant at the door went on slowly up the stairs, and the girl held Ardmore silent with her steady eyes until the step died away above. "I know what you want my father for. Mr. Billings and you are both pursuing him--it's infamous, outrageous! And it isn't his fault. I would have you know that my father is an honorable man!" The bayonets were at his breast: he would ask for mercy. "Miss Dangerfield, you are quite mistaken about me. I shall leave Raleigh at once, but I don't want you to think I came here on any errand to injure or annoy your father." "You are one of _those_ Ardmores, and Mr. Billings represents you. You thought you could come here and trick me into telling where my father is. But I am not so easily caught. My mother is ill because of all this trouble, and I must go to her. But first I want to see that you leave this house!" "Oh, I'm sorry you are in trouble. On my honor, Miss Dangerfield, I know nothing of Billings and his business with your father." "I suppose you will deny that you saw Mr. Billings in Atlanta yesterday?" "Why, no. I can't exactly--" "You'd better not! I saw you there talking to him; and I suppose he sent you here to see what you could find out."