“No?”

“He was getting violent, and he talked marriage all day, every day.  I haven’t any nerves, you say, but he began to put me on edge.  So I got rid of him.”

“Nelly, are you growing a conscience?”

She flushed and then set her teeth.

“But I’ll have to teach you business methods, my dear.  I have to bring him back.”

“You’ll have to go through Donnegan to do it.”

“I suppose so.”

“You don’t understand, Nick.  He’s different.”

“Eh?”

“He’s like you.”

“What are you driving at?”

“Nick, I tell you upon my word of honor, no matter what a terrible fighter you may be, Donnegan will give you trouble.  He has your hair and your eyes and he moves like a cat.  I’ve never seen such a man—­except you.  I’d rather see you fight the plague than fight Donnegan!”

For the first time Lord Nick showed real emotion; he leaned a little forward.

“Just what does he mean to you?” he asked.  “I’ve stood for a good deal, Nelly; I’ve given you absolute freedom, but if I ever suspect you—­”

The lion was up in him unmistakably now.  And the girl shrank.

“If it were serious, do you suppose I’d talk like this?”

“I don’t know.  You’re a clever little devil, Nell.  But I’m clever, too.  And I begin to see through you.  Do you still want to save Donnegan?”

“For your own sake.”

He stood up.

“I’m going up the hill today.  If Donnegan’s there, I’ll go through him; but I’m going to have Landis back!”

She, also, rose.

“There’s only one way out and I’ll take that way.  I’ll get Donnegan to leave the house.”

“I don’t care what you do about that.”

“And if he isn’t there, will you give me your word that you won’t hunt him out afterward?”

“I never make promises, Nell.”

“But I’ll trust you, Nick.”

“Very well.  I start up the hill in an hour.  You have that long.”

30

The air was thin and chilly; snow had fallen in the mountains to the north, and the wind was bringing the cold down to The Corner.  Nelly Lebrun noted this as she dressed and made up her mind accordingly.  She sent out two messages:  one to the cook to send breakfast to her room, which she ate while she finished dressing with care; and the other to the gambling house, summoning one of the waiters.  When he came, she gave him a note for Donnegan.  The fellow flashed a glance at her as he took the envelope.  There was no need to give that name and address in The Corner, and the girl tingled under the glance.

She finished her breakfast and then concentrated in polishing up her appearance.  From all of which it may be gathered that Nelly Lebrun was in love with Donnegan, but she really was not.  But he had touched in her that cord of romance which runs through every woman; whenever it is touched the vibration is music, and Nelly was filled with the sound of it.  And except for Lord Nick, there is no doubt that she would have really lost her head; for she kept seeing the face of Donnegan, as he had leaned toward her across the little table in Milligan’s.  And that, as anyone may know, is a dangerous symptom.