Fanny checked him again. "No, we cannot. Two years ago you said the same thing to me. I forgave you then because I loved you. For the same reason I forgive you now. But, however I care for you, never will I be your mistress." "Fanny----" "No, never. If, as again and again you have told me during the past few months, you still care for me, either you must love me openly or I will not permit you to love me at all." At the sudden horizon Loftus bent to her. "Let us go, then. In Europe we can love before all the world." Fanny drew back. "Particularly before all the half-world," she answered with a sniff. "No. You misunderstand me. Perhaps, too, I misunderstand you. Let my hand be." "Fanny, I will do anything----" "It is rather late to say that. But if I were free now, what would you do? Would you repeat the invitation you have made?" Loftus, his wonderful eyes looking deep into hers, answered quickly and sweetly, "I would beg you to be my wife." Fanny straightened herself. "Then give that girl her congé, give her a dot too, send her abroad and let her marry some count." "Very good, I will do so." "When you have," said Fanny, "I will ask Arthur for a divorce." "What?" And Loftus, with those wonderful eyes, stared in surprise. He was in for it, let in for it, was his first impression. Yet at once, on looking back, he realized that Fanny was incapable of trick of any kind. "But," he objected, "supposing he refuses?" "Then I will apply." "But you can't, you see. He is good as gold." "Oh, I don't mean here. I mean out West." For a moment Loftus said nothing. Even in the West, he reflected, divorce took time. Yet then, reflecting, too, that it would be very gentlemanly of Annandale were he to go there and leave the coast free for him, he smiled and remarked, with what seemed astounding inappositeness, "I have been selling short." "Ah!" said Fanny longly. "And what of it?" "Unless the market turns I shall be out, God knows how much!" "But what of it?" Yet even as she spoke she understood. "Fiddlesticks!" she exclaimed with a gesture of annoyance. "I sha'n't care if you haven't two cents." To this Loftus had no chance to reply. Annandale came lounging in. "Do you know what I have done?" he collectively and blandly inquired. "I told Skitt to buy me, at the opening, 1,000 Atchison and 1,000 Steel. Now I would like a quiet drink." Loftus stood up. "I am going in the Park for a quiet smoke. But I thought you had sworn off." Annandale tugged at his cavalry mustache and laughed. "I haven't touched a thing for nearly a year. But on a night like this, when the whole town is mad, I think I might have a drop. Stop, dear boy, won't you, and have one with me? No? Well--" And, accompanying Loftus to the door, he whispered to him there, "My compliments to Miss Leroy." "Don't forget, Royal," Fanny called after him, "that you dine with us on the ninth." CHAPTER III THE GATES OF LIFE