“What did they—­want?” The girl was still smiling, but her lips beneath the paint were dry.

“They felt that I had—­er—­involved you in a great deal of notoriety.  From what they said I judged that you shared their feelings.”  He paused awkwardly once more, and she motioned him to continue.  “We didn’t get on very well, especially your brother and I; for he presumed to—­criticize my relations with you and—­er—­my motive in taking you to ride the other night.  I believe I was quite rude to him; in fact, I had the watchman eject him, not daring to trust myself.”

“They asked for—­money?” Lorelei averted her face, for she could not bear to meet his frank eyes.

“Yes—­what I considered a great deal of money.  I understood they represented you.  They didn’t insist, however; they offered me a choice.”

“Choice?  Of what?”

“Well—­I inferred that marriage would undo the wrong I had—­”

“Oh-h!” Lorelei rose with a gasp.  Bravely she stilled the tremor of her lips.  “Tell me—­the rest.”

“There isn’t much more.  Your mother was quite hysterical and—­ noisy.  To-day a lawyer came to see me.  He offers to settle the whole matter, but I prefer dealing directly with you.”

“Do you think I knew anything about it?” she cried, indignantly.

“No, I do not think so now.  Yesterday I was too much surprised and too angry to know just what I did think.  It’s perfectly true, however, that I was to blame for the unfortunate outcome of the ride, and I want to make amends for any injury—­”

“Weren’t you injured, too, by the publicity?”

Merkle showed his teeth in a mirthless smile.

“That’s neither here nor there.”

“Please—­leave me, and—­let me think this over.  I must do something quickly, or—­I’ll smother.”

“I’m glad I came,” said he, rising.  “I’m glad I made sure.”

“So am I. What you have told me has made a great difference in—­ everything.  Don’t allow them to—­” She hesitated and her voice broke.  “I can’t say it.  Y-you must think I’m—­unspeakable.”

He shook his head gravely.  “No, I merely think you are very unfortunate.  I think you need help more than any girl I ever knew.”

“I do.  I do.”

“But I am not the one to give it—­at least not the kind of help you need.”

“I’ll need help more than ever—­after to-night.”

“Yes?  Why?”

“Because I’m going to leave home.”  Lorelei’s head was up, and she spoke with a note of defiance.

“Then perhaps I can do something.”  He seated himself again.  “You will need money.”

“Oh no.  I have my salary and the other revenues you know about.  I have kept my family for two years.”

“Work won’t hurt you, but why force yourself to go on with those other things?  They’re not to your liking, I’m sure.”

“My mother and father must live.  There isn’t enough—­don’t you see?  There just isn’t enough for all of us unless I—­graft like the other girls.”