He smiled! It might be that she was honest now--since the Amherst affair--but it was most unlikely, most unlikely. His own eyes had seen what would convict her of being dishonest. Mrs. Lorraine still--her husband helpless in a hospital--and her lover with her _here_!--No, it was not in the range of the possible. She was bad all through--with the badness that allures men because it is garbed in the robe of inherent respectability and high social position.... He lit a cigar, and as he smoked he considered the question--its bearing on himself socially and his prospects. He saw that it meant he must overlook the fracas with Pendleton--must lay aside his resentment and turn the other cheek toward Mrs. Lorraine if he were to have any hope of success. Then he smiled again. It would be but another sort of revenge on Pendleton; to take her from him--a more refined revenge than to injure Pendleton in his bank account or to have some thug beat him up. Here was a new view of the matter; made so by the incident he had overseen the previous evening.... Yes, on the whole it was the best way--decidedly the best way. He would get Mrs. Lorraine, and his revenge on Pendleton at the same time.... Of course she _might_ not be obtainable. She might hold to Pendleton--it was an old attachment, he had heard, and she might be faithful to him. But he could offer inducements that were likely to be particularly appealing, and of the sort that usually won. If she were not to be lured from Pendleton, then he could take up the other matter. There was no haste; he was a good waiter as well as a good hater--and a generous lover. With Mrs. Lorraine he would be more, much more than generous.... Well, he would see how the adventure promised.... In the gathering shadows of the evening, he saw Mrs. Lorraine and Pendleton come out on the open piazza below him. They stood leaning on the stone balustrade, and though he could hear the murmur of their voices the words were not distinguishable. [Illustration: THEY STOOD LEANING ON THE STONE BALUSTRADE] She laughed softly, infectiously, intimately; and Pendleton's mellow tones joined in.... Porshinger's eyes glowed.... Yes, she was good indeed to look at. Good indeed! The call of the woman came up to him--and he yielded. So far as he was concerned, the game was on. Pendleton was an obstacle, of course--but it would be a positive pleasure to overcome him. He was rather accustomed to obstacles, indeed they were just enough of a deterrent to add zest to the conquest. He came down-stairs a moment before dinner was announced, to find that he was to take his hostess in. "I am greatly honored," he said, as he gave her his arm. "Not at all, Mr. Porshinger; you quite deserve it," she replied. "Why should I deserve it?" he asked. "Didn't you save my guest from the Overton bull?" "I most assuredly did _not_. She saved herself by beating him to the fence and over it."