She appealed silently to O'Mally, but he shook his head determinedly.
"It's only right that we should know," he said, wondering why this thing had never entered his thick skull before.
"Let us not indulge in fine sentiment. I have guaranteed your credit here; how I have done so, ought not to matter much."
"But it does," countered Worth. "If by more than word, we insist upon knowing." Worth spoke with feeling. "Do not for a moment doubt my attitude. I understand and appreciate your great generosity. We are absolutely nothing to you, and you are not responsible for our misfortunes. But we men have some pride left. A man might do for us what you have done and we should accept it without comment; but a woman, no. That alters the case entirely."
"Is it from a sense—a misguided sense—of chivalry?" she asked, her lips suggesting a smile.
"That's probably it," O'Mally answered.
And Smith inclined his head in approval.
"You are evading us," went on Worth, not having moved from his stand.
"You insist, then?" coldly.
"Positively insist. If you do not tell us, we shall be forced to pay our bill and take our chances elsewhere." Worth pressed the button in the wall. A servant appeared directly. "The manager, at once."