For a moment they faced one another silently, then suddenly the woman blazed out:
"How dare you interfere with my plans for her! Besides, let me inform you, it is too late. She is engaged to Mr. Garman."
"She is to marry Garman?" asked Roger slowly.
"Yes."
"Then if it's settled—how can I interfere?"
"You can't. I will not permit it. And if you could, what could you offer her? You've no money, no position, no influence. You're nobody. She is Annette Fairclothe. She is the last hope of the family. I have built our whole future upon her. There will be no interference with my plans."
"She has a father——"
"Pooh! That doddering ass! Do you think it is he who has enabled us to keep our position in Washington? And now he is going into his dotage, and the big men won't dare to use him much longer. I'm not blind, Mr. Payne; I can see as well as Garman. Let me speak seriously to you: Your presence here spells danger to Annette—serious danger."
"Why?"
"Because, rather than risk failure for my plans, I will not stop at anything in the world."