anger. She seemed about to
spring at him.

"Bien," she croaked, "qui diable are you?"

He paused.

"You are Marie?" he demanded.

"Bien, and you?"

A voice came from a room leading from the hall. "Marie, who is it? Is
it Ben?"

"I know not who it is," Marie shouted back; "but if he comes up another
step I will tear out his eyes."

"Miss Arsdale," called Donaldson, "is anything the trouble? It is
I--Donaldson."

"You!"

Her voice, which had at first sounded weary, as the voice of one who
has waited a long while, gathered strength.

"It is all right, Marie," she called. "This--this is my friend."

Marie relaxed and gripped the banister for support. She was weak.

"I have never seen him before," she challenged.

There was a movement at the door.

"No, you have never seen him. Come here a moment, Marie."

With difficulty the old woman hobbled back into the room to her
mistress, and for a few moments Donaldson waited impatiently for the
next development. It came when he heard her voice asking him to come
in. He was in the room in three strides. She was sitting in her chair
with her head bandaged, Marie sitting by her side as though liking but
little his intrusion. At sight of the white strip across her forehead,
he caught his breath.

"What does this mean?" he demanded with quick assumption of authority.

"You must n't think it is anything serious," she hastened to explain,
awed by the fierceness of his manner. "It is only that--that he came
back."

"Arsdale?"

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"He went away again. Marie and I tried to hold him, but we weren't
strong enough."

"It would be easier to hold the devil," interpolated Marie.

"But you," asked the girl,--"I was afraid you had met with an accident."

"I?" he cried. "I was asleep--asleep like a drunken lout."

"All yesterday--all last night?" she asked in astonishment.

"Yes," he admitted, as though it were an accusation.

"Ah, that is good," she replied. "You needed the rest."

"Needed rest, and you in this danger?" he exclaimed contemptuously.
"It was unpardonable of me."

"No! No! Don't say that. You could have done nothing had you been
here."

"If ever I get my hands on him again," he cried below his breath.

"Mon Dieu," broke in Marie. "If I, too--"

"Hush," interrupted the girl. "It is quite useless for any of us to
attempt more until his money gives out. He came back and found a few
dollars in my purs