"I feel funny," he answered.
They looked at one another for a moment, and then Drouet plunged
desperately into his subject.

"What's this about you and Hurstwood?" he asked.

"Me and Hurstwood--what do you mean?"

"Didn't he come here a dozen times while I was away?"

"A dozen times," repeated Carrie, guiltily. "No, but what do you
mean?"

"Somebody said that you went out riding with him and that he came
here every night."

"No such thing," answered Carrie. "It isn't true. Who told you
that?"

She was flushing scarlet to the roots of her hair, but Drouet did
not catch the full hue of her face, owing to the modified light
of the room. He was regaining much confidence as Carrie defended
herself with denials.

"Well, some one," he said. "You're sure you didn't?"

"Certainly," said Carrie. "You know how often he came."

Drouet paused for a moment and thought.