"He did," Stephanie answered instantly. "He kissed me by force."
"I knew it!--I knew it!" Lorraine cried. "Well, I'll fix him--Porshinger, I mean. There is only one way to handle such as he--I'll prosecute him."
"I'll prosecute him--for assault and battery on my wife. I'll show the dirty scoundrel something he wasn't looking for."
"You're wild, Lorraine!" interposed Pendleton quietly. "You won't help Stephanie by any such proceeding--making her testify in a magistrate's office and then in court before a gaping crowd--subjecting her to all the shame of publicity. Why don't you--" he leaned a bit forward and spoke persuasively, "why don't you try the end of your cane on Porshinger also?--It would be a lot more satisfaction to you--and so much quicker."
"It wouldn't accomplish the same result--it wouldn't put him in jail," Lorraine objected.
"It will put him in a hospital if you thrust hard enough," said Pendleton. "That ought to satisfy you."
"It won't do!" he declared. "Stephanie has nothing to lose and everything to gain by my prosecuting him. The tale is going--what Dolittle knows will be public property in a day. The way to meet it is to have Porshinger arrested at once. Show that Stephanie is not afraid to face the issue. If she remain quiet under the story she tacitly admits its truth."
"But my dear Lorraine,"--Pendleton began.
"I'm not to be deterred, Montague--I didn't protect my wife from Amherst, but I will protect her this time." He arose. "You'll hear of Porshinger's arrest before night.--It will take him a little by surprise, I imagine," he flung over his shoulder as he strode away.
"Look here, Lorraine!" he said, curtly. "Don't be a fool--you think that Porshinger will bear the brunt of this, but you're grievously in error--it will be Stephanie who catches all the recoil. Be sensible," he urged, his hands itching to shake Lorraine. "Think of the defence that Porshinger will make if he is disposed to fight--and if you _arrest_ him he is sure to fight--that is the cad in him."
"That what he did was with Stephanie's permission."
Lorraine laughed shortly. "Just so--and a jury won't hesitate long when it's a question of veracity between a pretty woman and a mere man. Silence might be the wiser course, _if no one knew_, but that is not the case--everyone knows it now, or will by night. You know Dolittle quite as well as I--don't _you_ believe Stephanie?" he suddenly demanded.