reasing irritation at his attempt to exculpate her. "I
know perfectly well where I am going," she retorted with heat.

"Then you know," he returned steadily, "that you've no business to
enter such a place."

His opposition seemed only to anger her. "I know where I have
business. I need no admonitions from you as to what places I enter.
You are impertinent, insulting. Let me pass!"

His stubborn opposition showed no signs of weakening before her
resolve. "One question," he said, ignoring her angry words. "Have you
ever been in these rooms before?"

He thought she quailed the least bit before his searching look. She
even hesitated as to what to say. But if her eyes fell momentarily it
was only to collect herself. "Yes," she answered, looking up
unflinchingly.

Her resolute eyes supported her defiant word and openly challenged his
interference, but he met her once more quietly. "I am sorry to hear
it," he rejoined. "But that won't make any difference. You can't go in
to-night."

"I will go in," she cried.

"No," he returned slowly, "you are not going in--not, at least, while
I am here."

They stood immovable. He tried to reason her out of her determination.
She resented every word he offered. "You are most insolent," she
exclaimed. "You are interfering in something that is no concern of
yours. You have no right to act in this outrageous way. If you don't
stand aside I'll call for help."

"Nan!" De Spain spoke her name suddenly and threateningly. His words
fell fast, and he checked her for an instant with his vehemence. "We
met in the Gap a week ago. I said I was telling you the exact truth.
Did I do it?"

"I don't care what you said or what you did----"

"Answer me," he said sharply, "did I tell you the truth?"

"I don't know or care----"

"Yes, you do know----"

"What you say or do----"

"I told you the truth then, I am telling it now. I will never see you
enter a gambling-room as long as I can prevent it. Call for help if
you like."

She looked at him with amazement. She seemed about to speak--to make
another protest. Instead, she turned suddenly away, hesitated again,
put both her hands to her face, burst into tears, and hurried toward
the stairs. De Spain followed her. "Let me take you to where you are
going?"

Nan turned on him, her eyes blazing through her tears, with a single,
scornful, furious word: "No!" She quickened her step from him in such
confusion that she ran into two men just reach