d of you--"

"Left Weinberg's," he repeated. "Got another job, eh?"

"I am Mr. Maraton's assistant secretary," she announced.

His face for a moment was almost distorted with anger.

"You're living here--under this roof?" he demanded.

"It is no concern of yours where or how I am living," she answered.

"That's a lie!" Graveling exclaimed furiously. "You're my girl. I've
hung around after you for six years. I've known you since you were a
child. I'll be d--d if I'll be thrown on one side now and see you
become another man's mistress--especially his!"

He came a step further into the room. Maraton, who had been standing
with his back to them, arranging some papers on his desk, turned slowly
around. Graveling was advancing towards him with the air of a bully.

"Do you hear--you--Maraton?" he cried. "I've had enough of you! You
can flout us all at our work, if you like, but you go a bit too far when
you think to make a plaything of my girl. Do you hear that?"

"Perfectly," Maraton replied.

"And what have you got to say about it?"

Maraton shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"I don't know that I have anything particular to say about it. If it
interests you to be told my opinion of you, you are welcome to hear it."

Graveling advanced a step nearer still. His fists were clenched, an
ugly scowl had parted his lips. Julia came swiftly from her seat. Her
eyes were filled with fury. She faced Graveling.

"Richard Graveling," she exclaimed, "I am ashamed to think that I ever
let you call yourself my friend! If you do not leave the room and the
house at once, I swear that I will never speak to you again as long as I
live!"

He pushed her aside roughly.

"I'll talk to you presently," he declared. "It's him that my business
is with now."

Maraton's eyes flashed a little dangerously.

"Keep your hands off that young lady," he ordered.

"You'd like her to protect you, would you?" Graveling taunted. "Listen
here. I'm not the sort of man to have my girl taken away and made
another man's plaything. Is she going to stop here? Answer me
quickly."

"As long as she chooses," Maraton replied.

"Then take that!" Graveling shouted.

Maraton stepped lightly to one side. Graveling was overbalanced by his
fierce blow into the empty air. The next moment he was lying on his
back, and the room seemed to be spinning around him. Maraton was
standing with his finger upon the bell. Julia was by his side, her eyes
blazing. She s