there! Don't do that!" Mrs. Rodney had collapsed into her
daughter's arms, gasping for breath.

"She's all upset, Mr. Odell-Carney," said Katherine, shaking her mother
soundly. "It's just nerves. If you see papa, send him to us. We must
take the _first_ train for--for anywhere. Will you tell Mrs.
Odell-Carney that if she'll get ready at once, papa will see to the
tickets."

"Tickets? But, my dear young lady, we're not going anywhere. We're going
to stay here and see your cousin out of her troubles. My wife is with
her now."

He started away as Mr. Rodney came puffing up the stairs. Odell-Carney
changed his mind and waited.

"Where's Edith?" panted Mr. Rodney.

"Good heavens!" groaned his wife, lowering her voice because three
chambermaids were looking on from a near-by turn. "Don't mention that
creature's name. Just think what she's got us into. He isn't her
husband. Alfred, telephone for tickets on to-night's train. To-morrow
will be too late. I won't stay here another minute. Everybody in the
hotel is talking. We'll all be arrested."

But Mr. Rodney, for once, was the head of the family. He faced her
sternly.

"Go to your rooms, both of you. We'll stay here until this thing is
ended. I don't give a hang what she's done, I'm not going to desert
her."

"But--but he isn't her husband," gasped Mrs. Rodney, struck dumb by this
amazing rebellion.

"But she's your cousin, isn't she, madam?" he retorted with fierce
irony.

"I disown her!" wailed his wife, _sans raison_.

"Go to your rooms!" stormed pudgy Mr. Rodney. Then, as they slunk away,
he turned to the approving Odell-Carney, sticking out his chest a trifle
in his new-found authority. "I say, Carney, what's to be done next?"

The other looked at him for a moment as if in doubt. Then his face
cleared, and he took the little man's arm in his.

"We'll have a drink first and then see," he said.

As they were entering the buffet, a cheery voice accosted them from
behind. Freddie Ulstervelt came up, real distress in his face.

"I say, count me in on this. I'll buy, if I may. I've just heard the
news from the door porter. Bloody shame, isn't it? I had Mademoiselle Le
Brun over to hear the band concert--she is related to that painter
woman, by the way; I told Katherine she was. Say, gentlemen, we'll stand
by Mrs. Medcroft, won't we? Count me in. If it's anything that money can
square, I'm here with a letter of credit six figures long."

"Join us," said Od