"I'll stop," said Hay, whose face was colorless, and, without another word, he followed the sheep-dog into the dining-room in an agony of mind better imagined than described. Then Miss Qian turned her attention to her guests: "See here, boys," she said frankly, "this is a dirty business, and I don't want to be mixed up with it." "But Hay should be exposed," insisted Sandal; "he's been rooking me, I do believe, for months." "Serve you jolly well right," said Aurora, heartlessly. "I warned you again and again against him. But if there's a row, where do I come in?" "It won't hurt you," said Tempest, eagerly. "Oh, won't it? Gambling in my flat, and all the rest of it. You boys may think me free and easy but I'm straight. No one can say a word against me. I'm not going to be made out an adventuress and a bad woman for the sake of that swindler, Hay. So you boys will just hold your tongues." "No," said Sandal, "my money--" "Oh, bother your money. One would think you were a Jew. I'll see that Hay pays it back. He's going to marry this Krill girl, and she's able to supply the cash." "But the girl shouldn't be allowed to marry Hay," said Tempest. "Don't you burn your fingers with other people's fire," said Aurora, sharply. "This girl's in love with him and will marry him in spite of everything. But I don't care a cent for that. It's myself I'm thinking of. If I get your money back, Sandal, will you hold your tongue?" Lord George, thinking of what his noble father would say were he involved in a card scandal connected with an actress, thought it just as well to agree. "Yes," said he, hesitatingly, "I'll not say a word, if you get the money back. But don't you let Hay speak to me again in public or I'll kick him." "That's your affair and his," said Aurora, delighted at having gained her point; "but you hold your tongue, and you, Tempest?" "I'll not say a word either," said the young man, with a shrug, "though I don't see why you should save this blackguard's reputation." "It's my own I'm thinking of, so don't you make any mistake. And now I have both your promises?" "Yes," said Sandal and Tempest, thinking it best to hush the matter up; "but Hay--" "I'll see to him. You two boys clear out and go home to bed." "But we can't leave you alone with Hay," said Tempest. "I'll not be alone with him," cried the little woman, imperiously; "my companion is with me. What do you mean?" "He might do you some harm." "Oh! might he? You take me for a considerable idiot, I suppose. You get along, boys, and leave me to fix up things." Both young men protested again; but Aurora, anxious for her conversation with Hay, bundled them out of the flat and banged the door to, when she heard them whistling below for a hansom. Then she went to the dining-room. "You come along to the drawing-room," she said to Hay. "Miss Stably, stop here." "I haven't got my shawl," bleated the old lady.