Akers had wheeled at the voice, and now stood staring incredulously. First anger, and then a grin of triumph, showed in his face. Drink had made him not so much drunk as reckless. He had lost last night, but to-day he had won.
“Hello, Cameron,” he said.
Willy Cameron ignored him.
“Will you come?” he said to Lily.
“I can't, Willy.”
“Listen, Lily dear,” he said gravely. “Your father is searching the city for you. Do you know what that means? Don't you see that you must go home at once? You can't dine here in a private suite, like this, and not expose yourself to all sorts of talk.”
“Go on,” said Akers, leering. “I like to hear you.”
“Especially,” continued Willy Cameron, “with a man like this.”
Akers took a step toward him, but he was not too sure of himself, and he knew now that the other man had a swing to his right arm like the driving rod of a locomotive. He retreated again to the table, and his hand closed over a knife there.
“Louis!” Lily said sharply.