ht into
the stranger's projecting gray eyes. He had acted impulsively. Now that
he was here, he was anxious to put the job over concisely, firmly, but,
above all, neatly. There must be nothing done that would attract the
attention of the few persons in the big room.

"I came over here," he said casually, "to mention to you that you are
annoying the lady I am with. I want to mention also that the annoyance
must stop."

The glance of the stranger held. Laurie observed with interest that the
veiled look of the projecting eyes had changed a little. The change did
not add to the stranger's charm.

"Before I answer you, tell me one thing," he said, formally. "By what
right do you act as the lady's protector?"

Laurie hesitated an instant. The question was embarrassing.

"Has she authorized you to act?"

"In a way, but--"

"How long have you known her? How well do you know her?"

Command of the interview was slipping from the younger man. He
resolutely resumed it.

"Look here," he said, firmly, "I came to this table to tell you
something, but I will decide what that is to be. I am not here to answer
questions. It is enough for you to know that circumstances have given
me the right to protect the lady from annoyance. I want to make it clear
to you that I shall exercise that right. Hereafter you are to let her
alone. Do you understand? Absolutely alone. You are not to follow her,
not to enter places where she is, not to bow to her, nor to be where she
can see you," he recklessly ended.

The stranger looked at him through the light veil which seemed again to
have fallen over the projecting eyes.

"I should really like to know," he said, "when and where you met her. I
saw you starting off together in the taxicab, but I am not quite sure
whether your first encounter occurred this morning."

"And you won't be." Laurie stood up. "I've warned you," he said curtly.
"I don't know how well you understand our laws in this country, but I
fancy you know enough of them to realize that you cannot shadow a lady
without getting into trouble."

"She admitted that?" The stranger appeared to experience a tepid glow of
emotion. "She must know you better than I thought," he added
reflectively. "Doris is not the type to pour her confidence into every
new ear," he mused, seeming to forget the other's presence in his
interest in this revelation.

"Have I made myself quite clear?"

Laurie was staring at him with a mingling of resentm