“And who’s Frank?” asked the stranger.
“The man to whom I’m engaged.”
“H’m,” grunted the other; “and he wouldn’t be very pleased to find you here, with me, would he?”
“No. That is why I’ve been entrapped herein order to compromise me in the eyes of the man who loves me.”
“Why?” asked the owner of those bachelor chambers, leaning upon the bed-rail and looking at her.
“How can I tell?” said the frightened girl. “As far as I know, I’ve done nothing whatever to warrant this.”
“Ah! in this world it is the innocent who mostly suffer,” he remarked.
“But will you not allow me to go?” she implored eagerly. “Remember that all my future happiness depends upon your generosity in this matter.”
“My dear child,” he replied, placing his hand upon her shoulder, “if I dare, I would. But to tell you the truth, I, like yourself, am in the hands of certain persons who are utterly unscrupulous. I tell you, quite frankly, that I couldn’t afford to excite their animosity by disobeying these orders I have received.”
“But who is this gentleman who desires to see me?” she demanded quickly.