ll guy livin' up on Riverside Drive--and he don't divvy
with the city hall. Belle don't pay no such rent as the Madam does--at
least so old Lucy tells me."

The half-intoxicated woman down the table, who had stirred their
laughter a few minutes before, now roused up heavily. "Ol' Lucy--huh!
Used to work for her m'self. Caught a pippin for her once--right off
the train--jus' like this li'l hussy. Went to th' depot in a hack. Saw
th' li'l kid comin' an' pretended to faint. Li'l kid run to me an'
asked could she help. Got her to see me safe home--tee! hee! She's
workin' f'r ol' Lucy yet, sound's a dollar."

She fixed her bleared eyes upon Carmen and lapsed back into her former
state of sodden stupidity.

The girl rose hastily from her chair. The policeman's words at the
pier were floating confusedly through her thought. The strange talk of
these women increased the confusion. Perhaps a mistake had been made.
She turned beseechingly to Jude. "Isn't this--Mr. Reed's house?" she
asked.

Another of the women got up hurriedly and left the table. "I haven't
the nerve for another sob-scene," she commented as she went out.

"Where am I? Where am I?" pleaded Carmen, turning from one to
another.

Jude reached out and seized her hand tightly. "Pleasant job for me!"
she commented ironically, looking at the others. Then, to Carmen:

"You are in a--a hotel," she said abruptly.

"Oh--then--then it was a mistake?" The girl turned her great, yearning
eyes upon the woman. Jude shrank under them. "Sit down, and finish
your supper," she said harshly, pulling the girl toward the chair.

"No!" replied Carmen loudly. "You must take me to Mr. Reed!"

The maudlin woman down the table chuckled thickly. The negro waitress
went quickly out and closed the door. Jude rose, still holding the
girl's hand. "Come up stairs with me," she said, leading her away.

"Poor old Jude!" commented one of the women, when the two had left the
room. "She's about all in. This sort of business is getting her nerve.
But she's housekeeper, and that's part of her job. And--the poor
little kid! But ain't she a beauty!"

Jude took the girl into her own room and locked the door. Then she
sank wearily into a chair. "God!" she cried, "I'm sick of this--sick
of the whole thing!"

Carmen went quickly to her. "Don't!" she said. "Don't! It was all a
mistake, and we can go."

"Go!" echoed the woman bitterly. "Where--and how?"

"Why, you said this was a hotel--"