``There isn't a word of truth in it, mother,'' he said. ``I
don't care who told you, it's a lie.''

``Your love makes you blind,'' answered the mother. ``But I can
see that her vanity has led her just where vanity always leads
--to destruction.''

``Who told you?'' he demanded.

Mrs. Heilig gave him the names of several women. ``It is known
to all,'' she said.

His impulse was to rush out and trace down the lie to its author.
But he soon realized the folly of such an attempt. He would only
aggravate the gossip and the scandal, give the scandal-mongers a
new chapter for their story. Yet he could not rest without doing
something.

He went to Hilda--she had been most friendly toward him since the
day he helped her with her lover. He asked her to walk with him
in the Square. When they were alone, he began: ``Hilda, you
believe I'm your friend, don't you?''

She looked as if she feared he were about to reopen the old
subject.

``No--I'm not going to worry you,'' he said in answer to the
look. ``I mean just friend.''