A moment later, as Maria returned down the hall with a card in her hand, Lola met her.
"Let me see that card." Maria gave it to her, and, after glancing at it, she said quietly, "Show her in here, Maria."
"She asked especially to see your father."
Maria went obediently to the hall, returning a moment later, followed by a dark, middle-aged woman, showily dressed, and evidently in a very bad temper. The woman bowed coldly, but Lola made no pretence of returning her bow.
Maria left the room, and Lola stepped to the door of the dining-room, and looked in, smiling at the three men who so eagerly rose to greet her.
"Don't get up, please. I am not coming just yet, only please don't drink all the coffee."
She closed the door, and, turning suddenly on the woman, who stood in the center of the room, she demanded angrily:
"I came to see your father," responded Madam Zelya curtly, a trace of foreign accent in her speech, and more than a trace of stubborn anger in her manner.
"I told you, over the telephone, that I would call, or send a check, in a day or two."
"I cannot wait a day or two! The bill is long past due. My landlord, he vill not vait a day or two. My girls they vill not vait a day or two for their wages. Ze money it must be paid to-night."
"My dear Madam Zelya! Won't you be seated?"
"No! I prefer to stand. I vait here until I ged my money. Ef I stand perhaps I'd nod vait so long."
"I trust you too much," broke in Madam angrily. "Meeses Harlan bring you to me. I gif you credit, you do not pay. Meeses Harlan she half told me that your fadder he 'es a great doctor. Well, ve shall see if he vill pay."
"I want you to go," Lola spoke imperiously. "Go! At once!"
"Six hundred and sefenty-fife dollars ef you please."
"Wait!" The thought had suddenly flashed into Lola's mind. There was money there in the safe, a large sum. She had seen several hundred-dollar bills. This woman would not go without money. Unless she went at once, before dinner was over, John and her father would learn about the bill for six hundred and seventy-five dollars. They would not understand; they would make a fuss. Surely anything is better than a fuss.
She did not hesitate once she had made up her mind, but stepped to the safe and turned the combination, opened the door and, taking out the roll of bills, calmly counted out the necessary sum.