McLean stepped inside. He was smaller than Peter, not so much shorter as
slenderer. Even Peter winced before the look in his eyes.

"Where is she?"

"In the kitchen, I think. Come into the salon."

McLean flung off his coat. Peter closed the door behind him and stood
just inside. He had his pipe as usual. "I came to see her, not you,
Byrne."

"So I gather. I'll let you see her, of course, but don't you want to see
me first?"

"I want to take her away from here."

"Why? Are you better able to care for her than I am?"

McLean stood rigid. He had thrust his clenched hands into his pockets.

"You're a scoundrel, Byrne," he said steadily. "Why didn't you tell me
this this afternoon?"

"Because I knew if I did you'd do just what you are doing."

"Are you going to keep her here?"

Peter changed color at the thrust, but he kept himself in hand.

"I'm not keeping her here," he said patiently. "I'm doing the best I can
under the circumstances."

"Then your best is pretty bad."

"Perhaps. If you would try to remember the circumstances, McLean,--that
the girl has no place else to go, practically no money, and that I--"

"I remember one circumstance, that you are living here alone with her
and that you're crazy in love with her."

"That has nothing to do with you. As long as I treat her--"

"Bah!"

"Will you be good enough to let me finish what I am trying to say? She's
safe with me. When I say that I mean it. She will not go away from
here with you or with any one else if I can prevent it. And if you care
enough about her to try to keep her happy you'll not let her know you
have been here. I've got a woman coming to take Anna's place. That ought
to satisfy you."

"Dr. Jennings?"

"Yes."

"She'll not come. Mrs. Boyer has been talking to her. Inside of an hour
the whole club will have it--every American in Vienna will know about it
in a day or so. I tell you, Byrne, you're doing an awful thing."

Peter drew a long breath. He had had his bad half-hour before McLean
came; had had to stand by, wordless, and see Harmony trying to smile,
see her dragging about, languid and white, see her tragic attempts
to greet him on the old familiar footing. Through it all he had been
sustained by the thought that a day or two days would see the old
footing reestablished, another woman in the house, life again worth the
living and Harmony smiling up frankly into his eyes. Now this hope had
departed.

"You can't keep me f