It did not enter into Barney’s calculations, present or for the future, to make Maggie the mistress of any man.  Not that Barney was restrained by moral considerations.  The thing was just bad business.  Such a woman makes but comparatively little; and what is worse, if she chooses, she makes it all for herself.  And Barney, in his cynical wisdom of his poor world, further knew that the average man enticed into this poor trap, after the woman has said yes, and after the first brief freshness has lost its bloom, becomes a tight-wad and there is little real money to be got from him for any one.

“It’s like this:  once we’ve got this Sherwood bird safely hooked,” expanded Barney with the air of an authority, flicking off his cigarette ash with his best restaurant manner, “we can play the game a hundred ways.  But the marriage proposition is the best bet, and there are two best ways of working that.”

“Which d’you think we ought to use, Barney?” inquired Old Jimmie.

But Barney went on as if the older man had not asked a question.  “Both ways depend upon Sherwood being crazy in love, and upon his coming across with a proposal and sticking to it.  The first way, after being proposed to, Maggie must break down and confess she’s married to a man she doesn’t love and who doesn’t love her.  This husband would probably give her a divorce, but he’s a cagy guy and is out for the coin, and if he smelled that she wanted to remarry some one with money he would demand a large price for her freedom.  Maggie must further confess that she really has no money, and is therefore helpless.  Then Sherwood offers to meet the terms of this brute of a husband.  If Sherwood falls for this we shove in a dummy husband who takes Sherwood’s dough—­and a big bank roll it will be!—­and that’ll be the last Sherwood’ll ever see of Maggie.”

Old Jimmie nodded.  “When it’s worked right, that always brings home the kale.”

“The only question is,” continued Barney, “can Maggie put that stuff over?  How about it, Maggie?  Think you’re good enough to handle a proposition like that?”

Looking the handsome Barney straight in the eyes, Maggie for the moment thought only of his desire to manage her and of the challenge in his tone.  Larry and the appeal he had made to her were forgotten, as was also Dick Sherwood.

“Anything you’re good enough to think up, Barney Palmer, I guess I’m good enough to put over,” she answered coolly.

And then:  “What’s the other way?” she asked.

“Old stuff.  Have to be a sure-enough marriage.  Sherwoods are big-time people, you know; a sister who’s a regular somebody.  After marriage, family permitted to learn truth—­perhaps something much worse than truth.  Family horrified.  They pay Maggie a big wad for a separation—­ same as so many horrified families get rid of daughters-in-law they don’t like.  Which of the ways suits you best, Maggie?”

Maggie shrugged her shoulders with indifference.  It suited her present mood to maintain her attitude of being equal to any enterprise.