At length she put her hand over that of her antagonist, and stopped his move while she said:
"Sir Lemuel, a conflagration may be arrested by stamping out a spark of fire."
"Whatever do you mean, my lady!" inquired the perplexed banker.
"An inundation may be prevented by stopping up a small leak."
"I am more mystified than ever!"
"Look at Salome and Mr. Scott, then," said her ladyship, solemnly.
"Well, what of them? They seem to be very happy and very well pleased with each other."
"Ah! that is it, and worse may come of it."
"What worse can come of it?"
"Sir Lemuel, this Mr. Scott, you must remember, is nothing but an adventurer, who only gains an entrance into respectable circles on account of his journalistic reputation. He is probably also a pauper, but being a very handsome and attractive man, he is certainly a very dangerous, and likely to be a very successful fortune-hunter."