To tell the truth the rest of the day dragged through a weary length.  At the dinner table her father leaned to her and talked in his usual murmuring voice which could reach her own ear and no other by any chance.

“Nelly, there’s going to be the devil to pay around The Corner.  You know why.  Now, be a good girl and wise girl and play your cards.  Donnegan is losing his head; he’s losing it over you.  So play your cards.”

“Turn down Nick and take up Donnegan?” she asked coldly.

“I’ve said enough already,” said her father, and would not speak again.  But it was easy to see that he already felt Lord Nick’s star to be past its full glory.

Afterward, Lebrun himself took his daughter over to Milligan’s and left her under the care of the dance-hall proprietor.

“I’m waiting for someone,” said Nelly, and Milligan sat willingly at her table and made talk.  He was like the rest of The Corner—­full of the subject of the strange encounter between Lord Nick and Donnegan.  What had Donnegan done to the big man?  Nelly merely smiled and said they would all know in time:  one thing was certain—­Lord Nick had not taken water.  But at this Milligan smiled behind his hand.

Ten minutes later there was that stir which announced the arrival of some public figures; and Donnegan with big George behind him came into the room.  This evening he went straight to the table to Nelly Lebrun.  Milligan, a little uneasy, rose.  But Donnegan was gravely polite and regretted that he had interrupted.

“I have only come to ask you for five minutes of your time,” he said to the girl.

She was about to put him off merely to make sure of her hold over him, but something she saw in his face fascinated her.  She could not play her game.  Milligan had slipped away before she knew it, and Donnegan was in his place at the table.  He was as much changed as Lord Nick, she thought.  Not that his clothes were less carefully arranged than ever, but in the compression of his lips and something behind his eyes she felt the difference.  She would have given a great deal indeed to have learned what went on behind the door of Donnegan’s shack when Lord Nick was there.

“Last time you asked for one minute and stayed half an hour,” she said.  “This time it’s five minutes.”

No matter what was on his mind he was able to answer fully as lightly.

“When I talk about myself, I’m always long-winded.”

“Tonight it’s someone else?”

“Yes.”

She was, being a woman, intensely disappointed, but her smile was as bright as ever.

“Of course I’m listening.”

“You remember what I told you of Landis and the girl on the hill?”

“She seems to stick in your thoughts, Mr. Donnegan.”

“Yes, she’s a lovely child.”

And by his frankness he very cunningly disarmed her.  Even if he had hesitated an instant she would have been on the track of the truth, but he had foreseen the question and his reply came back instantly.