loor. The front door was in sight and Mavis's heart was beating high
with hope, when Mrs Hamilton, who looked tired and heated, stood in the
passage.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Out for the evening," replied Williams.

"What time shall I expect you back?" she asked of Mavis.

"I'm not coming back," replied Mavis. "I wish I'd never come."

"Then--?"

"Yes," interrupted Williams, anticipating Mrs Hamilton's question.

"You believe and trust a notorious seducer like this man?" asked Mrs
Hamilton of Mavis.

"Whatever I am, I ain't that," cried Williams.

"To a man who has ruined more girls than anyone else in London?"
continued Mrs Hamilton. "I solemnly warn you that if you go with that
man it means your ruin--ruin body and soul."

Mrs Hamilton spoke in such a low, earnest voice, that Mavis, who now
recollected Mr Williams's previous behaviour to her, was inclined to
waver.

Mrs Hamilton saw her advantage and said:

"Since you disbelieve in me, the least you can do is to go upstairs and
take off my clothes."

"She'll do nothing of the kind," cried out the man.

"He doesn't want to lose his prey," Mrs Hamilton remarked to Mavis, who
was inclined to falter a little more.

Perhaps Williams saw the weakening of the girl's resolution, for he
made a last desperate effort on her behalf.

"Look here," he said, "I'm not a sneak, but, if you don't own up and
let Miss Devereux go, I'll fetch in the police."

"You'll what?" cried Mrs Hamilton.

"Fetch in the police. Not to Mrs Hamilton, but to Mrs Bridgeman, Mrs
Knight, or Mrs Davis."

Mrs Hamilton's face went white; she looked intently at the man to see
if he were in earnest. His resolute eyes convinced her that he was.

The next moment, a torrent of foul words fell from her lips. She abused
Mavis; she reviled the man; she accused the two of sin, the while she
made use of obscene, filthy phrases, which caused Mavis to put her
hands to her ears.

Mavis no longer wavered. She put her hand on the man's arm; the next
minute they were out in the street.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MAVIS GOES OUT TO SUPPER

"Where now?" asked the man, as the two stood outside in the street.

"Good night," replied Mavis.

"Good night?"

"Good-bye, then."

"Oh no."

"I'm grateful to you for getting me out of that place, but I can never
see you or speak to you again."

"But--"

"We needn't go into it. I want to try to forget it, although I never
shall. Good-b