"Mr. Donnegan, let me give you friendly advice. I like you: I know you have courage; and I saw you meet Scar-faced Lewis. But if I were you I'd leave The Corner tonight and never come back. You've set every man against you. You've stepped on the toes of Landis and he's a big man here. And even if you were to prove too much for Jack you'd come against Lord Nick, as you say yourself. Do you know Nick?"
"No."
"Then, Mr. Donnegan, leave The Corner!"
The music, ending, left them face to face as he dropped his arm from about her. And she could appreciate now, for the first time, that he was smaller than he had seemed at a distance, or while he was dancing. He seemed a frail figure indeed to face the entire banded Corner—and Lord Nick.
"Don't you see," said Donnegan, "that I can't stop now?"
There was a double meaning that sent her color flaring.
He added in a low, tense voice, "I've gone too far. Besides, I'm beginning to hope!"
She paused, then made a little gesture of abandon.
"Then stay, stay!" she whispered with eyes on fire. "And good luck to you, Mr. Donnegan!"