"Stop!"
Both men were on their feet and glaring at each other.
"You are speaking of my future—wife!"
Ledyard loosened his collar and—laughed!
"You're mad!" he said faintly, "or a damned fool!"
"I'm neither. I am engaged to marry Priscilla Glynn; have been since the summer. I meant to tell you and mother to-night. I went to her from the vessel. Priscilla Glynn took care of Huntter without knowing of his connection in the Moffatt affair. Above all else in the world"—Travers's voice shook—"she adores Margaret Moffatt, knows her intimately, and wishes, blindly, to serve her as she understands her. There are such women, you know, and they are becoming more numerous. She has gone to—tell Margaret Moffatt."
"Gone?" Ledyard reeled back a step. "And you permitted that?"
"I had no choice. You do not know—my—my—well, Miss Glynn."
"Not know her? The young fiend! Not know her? I remember her well. I might have known that no good could come from her. But—we can crush her, the young idiot! I do not envy you your fiancée, Dick."
The telephone rang sharply and Ledyard took up the receiver with trembling hand.