e tapped lightly. At the time Aileen and Cowperwood were
sitting in a big arm-chair. At the first knock Aileen blanched and
leaped to her feet. Usually not nervous, to-day, for some reason, she
anticipated trouble. Cowperwood's eyes instantly hardened.

"Don't be nervous," he said, "no doubt it's only the servant. I'll go."

He started, but Aileen interfered. "Wait," she said. Somewhat reassured,
she went to the closet, and taking down a dressing-gown, slipped it on.
Meanwhile the tap came again. Then she went to the door and opened it
the least bit.

"Mrs. Montague," exclaimed Mrs. Davis, in an obviously nervous, forced
voice, "there's a gentleman downstairs who wishes to see you."

"A gentleman to see me!" exclaimed Aileen, astonished and paling. "Are
you sure?"

"Yes; he says he wants to see you. There are several other men with him.
I think it's some one who belongs to you, maybe."

Aileen realized on the instant, as did Cowperwood, what had in all
likelihood happened. Butler or Mrs. Cowperwood had trailed them--in all
probability her father. He wondered now what he should do to protect
her, not himself. He was in no way deeply concerned for himself, even
here. Where any woman was concerned he was too chivalrous to permit
fear. It was not at all improbable that Butler might want to kill him;
but that did not disturb him. He really did not pay any attention to
that thought, and he was not armed.

"I'll dress and go down," he said, when he saw Aileen's pale face.
"You stay here. And don't you worry in any way for I'll get you out of
this--now, don't worry. This is my affair. I got you in it and I'll get
you out of it." He went for his hat and coat and added, as he did so,
"You go ahead and dress; but let me go first."

Aileen, the moment the door closed, had begun to put on her clothes
swiftly and nervously. Her mind was working like a rapidly moving
machine. She was wondering whether this really could be her father.
Perhaps it was not. Might there be some other Mrs. Montague--a real one?
Supposing it was her father--he had been so nice to her in not telling
the family, in keeping her secret thus far. He loved her--she knew that.
It makes all the difference in the world in a child's attitude on an
occasion like this whether she has been loved and petted and spoiled, or
the reverse. Aileen had been loved and petted and spoiled. She could not
think of her father doing anything terrible physically to her or to an