"Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was _you_ that Jack wanted?"
Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the telephone-operator was button-holing a young man and using every persuasion to detain him.
Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken ran ahead without her.
"Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain everything," said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.
"What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?" scorned Paul, sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.
"Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside himself.
Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the house_, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.
"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.
But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word with me, you had best explain."
"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken. Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however, and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.
Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.