It was a great comfort to hear her say:

"It wouldn't have been the first time. And suppose she did--what are you
going to do about it?"

"I don't know," he said with a faint, remote playfulness in his tone
which had not been heard in it lately, and which seemed to catch her
ear pleasantly. "I am grieved to say that I don't know. But can I do
anything? What would you wish me to do? Pray command me."

Again, the greatest astonishment became visible in her face; for she now
perceived how different he was from the other men in the room. He was as
different from them as she was different from the other members of the
ladies' orchestra.

"Command you?" she breathed, after a time, in a bewildered tone. "Who
are you?" she asked a little louder.

"I am staying in this hotel for a few days. I just dropped in casually
here. This outrage--"

"Don't you try to interfere," she said so earnestly that Heyst asked, in
his faintly playful tone:

"Is it your wish that I should leave you?"

"I haven't said that," the girl answered. "She pinched me because I
didn't get down here quick enough--"

"I can't tell you how indignant I am--" said Heyst. "But since you are