Lorelei shook her head; she felt sick with dread of his next
words.

"It was very--unpleasant, I fear, for all of us."

"What did they--want?" The girl was still smiling, but her lips
beneath the paint were dry.

"They felt that I had--er--involved you in a great deal of
notoriety. From what they said I judged that you shared their
feelings." He paused awkwardly once more, and she motioned him to
continue. "We didn't get on very well, especially your brother and
I; for he presumed to--criticize my relations with you and--er--my
motive in taking you to ride the other night. I believe I was
quite rude to him; in fact, I had the watchman eject him, not
daring to trust myself."

"They asked for--money?" Lorelei averted her face, for she could
not bear to meet his frank eyes.

"Yes--what I considered a great deal of money. I understood they
represented you. They didn't insist, however; they offered me a
choice."

"Choice? Of what?"

"Well--I inferred that marriage would undo the wrong I had--"

"Oh-h!" Lorelei rose with a gasp. Bravely she stilled the tremor