"My poor boy," she spoke kindly, and looked at him with something very like sadness in her eyes, "you are making a mistake. We met yesterday in your boat. We walked together for a moment in the evening; that is all."
"Just a dream, and dreams don't last. You must go now, quickly, please, because I see Mr. Fenway coming."
He did not answer, but he had not the least idea of going; she saw that in the same glance that showed her that Dick had seen them together and had quickened his pace. She must not let these two men meet; there was danger in that; this young man must be made to go, and in less than a minute. She looked up at him, flashing one look straight into his eyes.
"Go now," she said, almost in a whisper, "and wait for me--to-night."
"I will." As he spoke he turned and walked on up the beach. She sighed as her eyes followed his free, powerful movements and noticed his easy, graceful figure and broad shoulders; then she turned to meet Dick.
"That was that Blake, the life-guard," Dick spluttered, his sallow face whiter than ever now with anger. "You must think I'm a damned fool to stand for a thing like this!"
"I think that you are forgetting, Dick, that you are not speaking to one of your chorus-girl friends."
"Do you? Well, let me tell you something; even one of what you are pleased to call my chorus-girl friends would have the decency to play the game straight while she played it at all. There's another name for a woman who takes one man's money and when his back is turned lets another fellow----"
"You would be wise to stop right there!" She sprang up and faced him, white with rage, and with a look that, angry as he was, he dared not face. "I have taken your money; yes, this is not the first time you have chosen to remind me of it, but it is the very last. You won't have another chance! I won't take another dollar from you until we are married; after that, if you ever dare to repeat a thing like that, I will leave you! Now you go, get that divorce you talk so much about before you let me see your face again, and get it soon, if you expect me to wait for you!"
"Lola, forgive me. I--I was wrong, but I am worried sick, or I wouldn't have made such a fool of myself! Don't be hard, Lola; I've troubles enough without that. I--I'm in a devil of a mess."