room in which to do so, using all his ingenuity to dodge the menace
of the elbows and feet of people who pushed and forced as though
they were in a subway crush, he told himself that he would make it
his business from that moment onward to lay siege to Joan, apply to
her all his well-proved gifts of attraction and eventually make her
pay his price for services rendered.

He had just arrived at this cold-blooded determination when, to his
complete astonishment and annoyance, a strong, muscular form thrust
itself roughly between himself and Joan and swept her away.




III


"Marty!" cried Joan.

There was a curious glint in Martin's gray eyes, like the flash of
steel in front of a window. His jaw was set, and his face strangely
white.

"You said you were going to bed."

"I was going to bed, Marty dear."

"What are you doing here, then?"

"I changed my mind, old boy, and went out to dinner."