a man gets
down to playing for a mere pittance, as he does, in a disreputable
theatre, and dwelling in a squalid neighbourhood, with low
companions----"

"Can he help his poverty?" interrupted Helene, now thoroughly aroused.
"The man has pride, he refuses to take money; he is a gentleman! You
have no right to insult him because he is poor."

"There are other reasons," said Stanton quickly.

"What are they?"

Stanton was silent.

"What are they?" again demanded Helene.

"It is enough that I know," replied Stanton. "It is enough for you to
know that I know."

Helene shook her head. "It is not enough," she said.

"If you don't tell him to go at once, you will force me to have him
ordered from the house!"

"Father," Helene was almost calm now. "Tell me, for God's sake, tell
me what has he done?"

Stanton bit his lip with anger. The obstinacy of the girl was fast
driving him to extremes. "He is not fit to be in this house," he
almost shouted, "or to associate with gentlefolk."

"But he is so good, so gentle! How can I suddenly tell him to go?
Father, I cannot believe that."

"You don't believe me? Has it come to a question of my word--your
father's word against a stranger, a beggar! Do you know I can have the
man put in prison?"

Helene stopped suddenly; she was very quiet now. "Is it as bad as
that?" she asked almost in a whisper. Stanton was silent. "Father,
can you--put--him--in prison?"

Stanton felt that it was necessary to convince her.

"I think the situation speaks for itself," he said. He, too, was calm
now, for he felt that he had to resort to extreme measures. "The man
leaves his own country, where he is successful, and comes here, and
lives with the lowest of the low. Would a man do that if he were
not--afraid--or in danger?"

Helene's heart sank.

"Don't say any more, don't please!" She felt that her father had good
reasons for speaking as he did.

"If you had only told me before," she said plaintively; "if you had
only confided in me it would have saved so much suffering. Why didn't
you speak before, father?"

Stanton shook his head.

"Very well, you--you shall be obeyed, father." she said in a low
voice. "I'll tell him that you----"

"No," he interrupted quickly. "No! I don't wish him to know that I'm
in any way cognisant of his presence here. Simply dismiss him and let
him go. Above all, make him understand that he is never to come here
again."

Helene