Sherman detached himself from the group at the cigar stand and walked over to the lounge where Dumain and Dougherty were seated.
“Well?” he said significantly, stopping in front of them.
They looked up at him inquiringly.
“Knowlton didn’t show up yet,” he continued.
“Yes, he deed,” said the little Frenchman.
“What?”
“I say, he deed.”
“Then, where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh!” A light of evil satisfaction appeared in Sherman’s eyes. “Then you spoke to him?”
“Yes.”
“Then he’s gone.”
“So eet seems; but he’ll probably be back.”
“Ah! And what did he say?”
“In effect, he advised us to go to zee devil.”
Sherman seemed taken aback.
“But didn’t you tell him we’d get him?” he demanded.
But Dumain and Dougherty rose and went to join Driscoll and Jennings in the billiard room without answering him. Sherman’s face colored slightly, but he remained silent, gazing after them with a contemptuous sneer.
“My turn next,” he muttered after they had gone.
Within the next hour Dumain spoke to each of the Erring Knights concerning Knowlton; and he was somewhat surprised at the unanimity with which they favored his proposal. Driscoll was the only one who had a good word for Knowlton. But he was easily persuaded.
Then Dumain decided on a little strategy of his own. The result was unfortunate; but he could not have foreseen that. The little Frenchman was well acquainted with woman’s weakness; but he knew little of her strength. On that day he was destined to acquire knowledge.
When the others wandered out in search of lunch, leaving the lobby all but deserted, he remained behind. For the sake of moral support he communicated his design to Dougherty, who expressed a fear that something was about to be started which it would be difficult to finish.
“Bah!” said Dumain. “You shall see. Sit here to wait. It will be easy.”
When Lila returned from lunch he hurried to her desk and helped her off with her coat.
“Have you been taking lessons in gallantry, Mr. Dumain?” Lila smiled.
“Such a question as zat is insult to zee Frenchman,” said Dumain, assuming an injured air. “We do not learn gallantry; we are born wiz eet. I insist on an apology.”
“But that is not gallant,” Lila protested.
Dumain laughed.
“Eh bien! We all have our lapses. And, too, you should not have offended me. I am very sensiteeve. Eet ees not fair. Only today I have rendered you a very great sairvice. Not zat I expect any reward — or even gratitude. But I think you should know of eet.”
Lila looked up quickly.
“You mustn’t talk like that, Mr. Dumain. You have been good and kind to me — all of you; and you know I am grateful. I can never thank you enough.”
Dumain was silent.
“But what is the service you have rendered me?” Lila said presently.
“One zat you may not thank me for,” said Dumain.
“But what was it?”
“Killing anozzer dragon — of zee human species.”
She frowned.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand you.”
Dumain stammered something about “men” and “danger,” and “the need of a protector.” He was finding it harder than he had thought.
“But what do you mean?” Lila insisted.
The little Frenchman gathered himself together and plunged in.
“I mean,” he said impressively, “zat we have dropped Knowlton and told heem to stay away from you.”
The unexpectedness of it made Lila catch her breath in surprise. Then her face colored gloriously, treacherously. A little tremulous, uncertain laugh came from between her lips.
“That was hardly necessary, was it?” she inquired with a brave attempt at indifference.
“We thought so,” Dumain answered, admiring her courage. He was thinking to himself: “She’s a thoroughbred. Mon Dieu! What a woman!”
“You see,” he added aloud, “we found out something about heem that was not exactly to his credit. So, of course, we cut heem. What does that mean?” noticing a curious smile on Lila’s face.
“I was just thinking,” said Lila slowly, “that it must be a very good man who could afford to say to another man: ‘You are not fit to associate with me.’ Don’t you think so?”
Dumain winced.
“But that wasn’t it,” he protested. “We were thinking of you. None of us pretend to be angels. But we know you are one.”
“But why should you have singled out Mr. Knowlton?” Lila insisted, ignoring the compliment. “He acted just as the rest of you. He is kind to me — so are you, so is Mr. Dougherty. He has never offended me.”
Dumain opened his mouth as though to answer; but was silent.
“Why?” Lila persisted.
Dumain stammered something about roses.
“Roses!” exclaimed Lila in amazement. “What do you mean?”
“I mean zat you take hees roses home,” said Dumain desperately, “and no one else’s.”
He should have known better. No one can get a secret from a woman in that manner; provided, of course, that it is her own secret. Lila leaned back in her chair and laughed delightedly. The little Frenchman regarded her with a comical expression of wounded vanity.
“Oh!” Lila cried, as soon as she could speak. “Mr. Dumain, you are positively childish! You must forgive me; but it is so funny!”
It was too much for Dumain; he gave it up.
“Tom!” he called in the tone of a drowning man crying for help.
Dougherty rose from the seat Dumain had assigned to him and came over to them. In as few words as possible Dumain explained his dilemma, telling him that Lila was aggrieved at their attitude toward Knowlton.
Lila interrupted him.
“Not aggrieved,” she said. “It does not especially interest me; only it seems unjust. And I see no reason for it.”
Dougherty turned to Dumain.
“Why did you say anything about it to her?” he growled.
Dumain, having nothing to say, was silent.
Dougherty turned to Lila.
“And you think we are unjust?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Well, you are wrong.”
“I believe I am right.”
Dougherty reflected for a moment, sighed for courage, cleared his throat, and said:
“Miss Williams, it is time we understand each other. Now is as good a time as any.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Lila.
“You will before I get through. I only ask you to remember what I... what we think of you.
“You know what we’ve done — not much, perhaps, but all we could — to show you how we feel. We’ve been glad enough for the chance. There’s not much good in any of us, but we’re always anxious to use what we’ve got.
“Now about Knowlton. As long as he was merely one of us, we asked no questions. He was good enough for us. And I guess he always treated you all right. But that’s not the point. We have an idea you’re beginning to think too much of him.
“And that won’t do. Knowlton’s all right to buy you roses, and look after you, like the rest of us. But we ain’t fit to touch you, and neither is he.
“That’s all there is to it. If you’ll tell us you don’t think any more of Knowlton than you do of any of the rest of us, we’ll admit we’re wrong and apologize.
“We have some rights, you know. You’ve let us stand by you and do things for you. All we ask you to do is this: say you don’t love this Knowlton.”
During this speech Lila lost her courage. Was everyone in on her secret? Her color rose and fell, her face was lowered, and her hand trembled as she raised it to adjust a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Still, she found sufficient strength to answer: