Carter was furious. He was sober enough to think he had been
insulted; and what do you suppose he did?"

"What? what?" exclaimed Condy, breathless, leaning toward her.

"Went about the halls and dressing-rooms circulating some dirty
little lie about Laurie. Actually trying to--to"--Travis
hesitated--"to make a scandal about her."

Condy bounded in his seat. "Beast, cad, swine!" he exclaimed.

"I didn't think," said Travis, "that Carter would so much as dare
to ask me to dance with him--"

"Did he? did--did--"

"Wait," she interrupted. "So I wasn't at all prepared for what
happened. During the german, before I knew it, there he was in
front of me. It was a break, and he wanted it. I hadn't time to
think. The only idea I had was that if I refused him he might
tell some dirty little lie about me. I was all confused--mixed
up. I felt just as though it were a snake that I had to humor to
get rid of. I gave him the break."

Condy sat speechless. Suddenly he arose.

"Well, now, let's see," he began, speaking rapidly, his hands
twisting and untwisting till the knuckles cracked. "Now, let's
see. You leave it to me. I know Carter. He's going to be at a
stag dinner where I am invited to-morrow night, and I--I--"