"What if I have--what if I have," roared her father, clenching his big hands. "You jade, do you ask me that when I find you here in this scoundrel's rooms at ten o'clock in the evening?"
Ralph closed the door with a crash and faced the millionaire. "I am not a scoundrel."
"You are. Because I declined to allow you to see Audrey at my house you have decoyed her here."
"I came here of my own free will," said Audrey, who was deadly pale but quite firm.
"Then you go away at my free will," said her father, advancing. "I have a cab below. Come away at once. Oh, you minx! You little thought that I told Ranger to watch you." (Ranger was one of Sir Joseph's footmen.) "Yes, he did watch you, and by my orders. He saw you leave the house, and followed you to hear you tell the cabman to drive to the Temple. When he informed me I guessed that you had come to see this--this--" Branwin could not think of a name bad enough to call this barrister, so contented himself by shaking his fist furiously.
"You set one of your servants to spy on your daughter?" said Audrey, with a look of profound scorn.
"Yes, I did, and it is lucky for you that I took such care of your reputation, you hussy! I can silence the man, but if anyone else came to know of your presence here, think what the world would say."
"I don't care what the world says," said Audrey, contemptuously.
"I care. It is my good name you are dragging through the mud."
"What of your own good name which your own wicked actions are dragging in the mud?" cried Ralph, suddenly, and faced the millionaire defiantly.