"He seems to be in a bit of a hurry," Pendleton remarked, as Lorraine hastily crossed the piazza and said a word to the doorman. The latter saluted and replied. Lorraine turned quickly in their direction--then hurried over. "He is coming here!" said Gladys wonderingly; while Stephanie frowned slightly, and Pendleton began to drum lightly on one knee. "I hope you will pardon me if I'm intruding," Lorraine apologized as he came up, "but I've a matter that won't bear delay--at least it won't bear delay according to my view.--May I sit down?" He looked at Stephanie, and she, with a glance at the others, answered indifferently. "If you wish." "I telephoned to your house, Stephanie," Lorraine went on, "and they said you were here, so I came straight back--and I'm fortunate to find Gladys and Pendleton with you, for they are your friends and they will stand by you, I know." He was greatly agitated; his tones were high-pitched, his words bitten off short, and his hands trembled with nervousness or with the tension of his feelings. "We will stand by Stephanie you may be sure," said Pendleton--"as we have stood by her in the past." "And as I haven't!" Lorraine exclaimed. "You're right, I haven't--but I'm trying to stand by her now. Do you know what I overheard Billy Dolittle telling old Baringdale this morning?--It was this--he said that in the conservatory at the Croydens' last night he saw my wife in that cad Porshinger's arms. I knocked him down with my stick--drove the end of it straight into his stomach--it is an old fencing trick, you know, Pendleton. When he got up I gave him another in the same place. It put him out. Then I went on the hunt of Stephanie--to know how she's going to meet the slander. It can't be the truth--at least, not the _way_ he told it--Porshinger _must_ have used violence. Didn't he?" he demanded. "He did," Stephanie answered instantly. "He kissed me by force." "I knew it!--I knew it!" Lorraine cried. "Well, I'll fix him--Porshinger, I mean. There is only one way to handle such as he--I'll prosecute him." "You will what!" Stephanie exclaimed. "I'll prosecute him--for assault and battery on my wife. I'll show the dirty scoundrel something he wasn't looking for." "You're wild, Lorraine!" interposed Pendleton quietly. "You won't help Stephanie by any such proceeding--making her testify in a magistrate's office and then in court before a gaping crowd--subjecting her to all the shame of publicity. Why don't you--" he leaned a bit forward and spoke persuasively, "why don't you try the end of your cane on Porshinger also?--It would be a lot more satisfaction to you--and so much quicker." "It wouldn't accomplish the same result--it wouldn't put him in jail," Lorraine objected. "It will put him in a hospital if you thrust hard enough," said Pendleton. "That ought to satisfy you." "And put me in jail, if he prosecute." "He will not prosecute, never fear." Lorraine shook his head.