For a second or two he stood so, absolutely motionless, his great hand grasping hers.
Then, very suddenly, he stooped to her, looking into her eyes.
"Good-bye, little new chum!" he said, softly.

"It was--decent of you to treat me--without prejudice." The words pierced her.

A great tremor went through her.

For an instant the pain was almost intolerable.
"Oh, spare me that!" she said, quickly and passionately, and drew her hand away.
The next moment she was running blindly through the passage, scarcely knowing which way she went, intent only upon escape.
A man at the foot of the stairs stood aside for her, and she fled past him without a glance.

He turned and watched her with keen, alert eyes till she was out of sight.