Miss Norvell started violently, her fingers clutching his arm as if to keep her body from falling, her face grown suddenly white.

“Farnham, did you say?  What—­what Farnham?”

“I believe I have heard him familiarly spoken of as ‘Biff.’”

“Here?  Here in San Juan?  ‘Biff’ Farnham here?” The startled words appeared to stick in the swelling white throat, and she stood staring at him, her slender figure swaying as though he had struck her a physical blow.  “Oh, I never knew that!”

Winston, shocked and surprised by this unexpected outburst, did not speak, his face slowly hardening to the dim suspicion thus suddenly aroused by her agitation and her impetuous exclamation.  She must have taken instant warning from the expression of his eyes, for, with an effort, she faced him in regained calmness, a slight tremor in her low voice alone betraying the lack of complete self-control.

“Your information certainly startled me greatly,” she exclaimed slowly.  “It was so unexpected, and so much has happened of late to affect my nerves.”

They walked on in silence, and as he ventured to glance aside at her, uncertain regarding his future course, her eyes were lowered and hidden behind the drooping lashes.

“And is that all?” he asked.

“All?  Why, what more is there?”

He compressed his lips, striving not to exhibit openly his impatience.

“Nothing, of course,” he acquiesced quietly, “if the lady prefers keeping silent.  Only, as matters now stand, the result may prove an unpleasant misunderstanding.”

They were now at the bottom of the few steps leading up toward the hotel entrance, and Miss Norvell, removing her hand from the support of his arm, stood before him outwardly calm.

“Beyond doubt, you refer to my apparent surprise at first hearing Mr. Farnham’s name mentioned?”

He bowed quietly, again fascinated and disarmed by the revelation in those dark eyes.

“The explanation is quite simple,” and the voice exhibited a touch of coolness easily perceptible.  “I chanced to be somewhat acquainted with this man in the East before—­well, before he became a gambler.  Of course, I do not know him now, have not the slightest desire to do so, but the sudden information that he was actually here, and—­and all the rest—­came to me with a shock.  Is that sufficient?”

The young man was unsatisfied, and, without doubt, his face quite clearly exhibited his true feeling.  Yet there was that about her constrained manner which held him to respectful silence, so that for a moment the hesitation between them grew almost painful.  Miss Norvell, realizing this new danger, struggled weakly against sudden temptation to throw herself unreservedly upon the mercy of this new friend, confide wholly in him, accept his proffered aid, and flee from possible coming trouble.  But pride proved even stronger than fear, and her lips closed in firm resolution.