and ten
thousand times as pure as those who are your constant company."

Lord Robert's angular and ugly face glistened with a hateful smile.
"Innocent!" he cried hoarsely, and then he laughed out aloud. "Go on!
It's rippin' to hear you, dear boy! Innocent, by God! Just as innocent as
any other ballet girl who is dragged through the stews of London, and
then picked up at last by the born fool who keeps her for another man."

"You liar!" cried Drake, and like a flash of light he had shot his fist
across the table and struck the man full in the face. Then laying hold of
the table itself, he swept it away with all that was on it, and sprang at
Lord Robert and took him by the throat.

"Take that back, will you? Take it back!"

"I won't!" cried Lord Robert, writhing and struggling in his grip.

"Then take that--and that--and that--damn you!" cried Drake, showering
blow after blow, and finally flinging the man into the _debris_ of what
had fallen from the table with a crash.

The women were screaming by this time and all the house was in alarm. But
Drake went out with long strides and a ferocious face, and no one
attempted to stop him.

XIII.

Returning to St. James's Street, Drake found John Storm waiting in his
rooms. The men had changed a good deal since they last met, and the faces
of both showed suffering.

"Forgive me for this visit," said Storm. "It was my first duty to call
and thank you for what you've done."

"That's nothing--nothing at all," said Drake.

"I had also another object. You'll know what that is."

Drake bowed his head.

"She is gone, it seems, and there is no trace left of her."

"None?"

"Then _you_ know nothing?"

"Nothing! And you?"

"Nothing whatever!"

Drake bowed his head again. "I knew it was a lie--that she had gone after
you--I never believed that story."

"Would to God she had!" said Storm fervently, and Drake flinched, but
bore himself bravely. "When did she go?"

"Two days ago, apparently."

"Has anybody looked for her?"

"_I_ have--everywhere--everywhere I can think of. But this London----"

"Yes, yes; I know--I know!"

"For two days I have never rested, and all last night."

Storm's eyes were watching the twitchings of Drake's face. He had been
sitting uneasily on his chair, and now he rose from it.

"Are you going already?" said Drake.

"Yes," said Storm. Then in a husky voice he added: "I don't know if we
shall ever meet again, you and I. When de