Jim had risen likewise, but Hammon had eyes for no one except Lilas.

“Ah!  You’re home again, finally.  Where have you been?” he demanded, in a voice heavy with anger.  His hostile tone, his threatening attitude brought an uncomfortable silence upon the hearers.

“Now, Jarvis,” said the bridegroom, placatingly, steadying himself meanwhile with the aid of the table, “don’t be a grouch.  Everything’s all right.”

Lilas remained motionless, staring defiantly.  Her face had slowly whitened, and now its unpleasantness matched that of her elderly admirer.  Hammon dropped his smoldering gaze to the half-empty glasses, then raised it, scowling at Jim.

“Humph!  Who is—­this?”

Lilas made her guest known.  “Mr. Knight, Mr. Hammon.  I believe you know Miss Knight.”

“So you’re the one.”  Hammon showed his teeth in a sardonic smile.

“I’m the one what?” inquired Jim, with a sickly attempt at pleasantry.

“By God!  What does she see in you?” Hammon measured the young man with contemptuous curiosity.

“Don’t be an ass, Jarvis,” began Lilas.  “I—­”

She was interrupted roughly.  “That’s precisely what I don’t intend to be; and I don’t intend that Bob shall be one, either.”  He turned to young Wharton.  “What are you doing here, my boy?” he asked.

“Just stopped in for a minute.  You’ll find all the bric-a-brac in its place.”

“Now don’t get funny.  I’m sorry to see you with these grafters.”  Hammon indicated Jim and Lorelei with a nod.

“Eh?  What’s that?” Bob stiffened, and Jim murmured an indignant protest.

“You heard me.  They’re grafters, and you’d better cut loose from them.”

“Wait a minute.  Lorelei’s my wife.  ’S true, Jarvis.”

“Wife?” Hammon took a heavy step forward.  “Wife?  Hell, you’re drunk, Bob!”

“P’raps.  But we’re mar—­”

“So!  You landed him, did you?” Hammon glared at the brother and sister.  “You got him drunk and married him, eh?  And Lilas helped you, I suppose.  Fine!  They’re crooks, Bob, and they’ve made a fool of you.”  Bob checked the speech on Lorelei’s lips with an upraised hand, then said slowly, with a painful effort to sober himself:  “You’re—­mistaken, Jarvis.  She’s an honest girl and a good one, too good for me.  You mus’ ’pologize.”

The elder man breathed an oath.  “She’s a blackmailer, and so is—­ this person.  Oh, don’t look hurt, my friend.”  He froze Jim with a glare.  “Merkle told me how you tried to work your sister off on him.  When you couldn’t make that go you grabbed the next best man, eh?  It’s true, Bob; she’s a stalking horse for her whole damned family.”

Bob centered his eyes laboriously upon the speaker, then said distinctly:  “We’ve been good friends, Jarvis; you’re a kind of an uncle to me, but—­you’re a liar.  You’ve lied ’bout my wife, so I’spose I’ve got to lick you.”  With a backward kick he sent his overturned chair flying, then made for Hammon.  But Jim seized him by the arm; Lorelei sprang in front of him.