Mrs. Trupp eyed her under level brows.
"Oh, he does know that?" she said.
Ruth was pale.
"Yes, 'M," she said. "See Alf used to drive him that summer at the Hohenzollern."
Mrs. Trupp was not entirely satisfied.
"I don't see how Alfred can hold his knowledge over you," she remarked.
"Not over me," answered Ruth, raising her eyes. "Over him."
"Over who?"
"Captain Royal," said Ruth; and added slowly—"And I'd be sorry for anyone Alf got into his clutches—let alone her father."
Her dark eyes smouldered; her colour returned to her, swarthy and glowing; a gleam of teeth revealed itself between faintly parted lips.