Now the outer door was heard to slam; for Neil had run out to summon help.
“I’m not acting on my own behalf,” said David, “but for the sake of a girl whose life, I feel sure, you are going to make bitter. She cares nothing for you—”
“How dare you!” came in a hoarseness of concentrated passion from Van Hupfeldt’s bosom.
“No, she cares nothing for you—”
“You interloper!”
“And even if she did, she is sure to find out sooner or later that you are Strauss—”
“Oh! had I but guessed!”
“Which would be the death of her—”
“I never dreamed of this.”