And men, whose upturned faces were like greedy satyrs, were calling upon her to open her ruby lips and show her pearls.

He turned restlessly on his pillow with a muttered oath.

Then he smiled as he thought to himself that, by saving her from such degradation, he had acquired complete control of her destiny.

From the first moment he heard of her reverses, he had felt that her misfortunes were his triumph.

Madly in love as he had been for more than a year, his own pride, and still more the dreaded scorn of proud relatives, had prevented him from offering marriage; while the watchful guardianship of her father, and her dutiful respect to his wishes, rendered any less honorable alliance hopeless.