"Señorita Mercedes does not appear very kindly disposed toward you," he
ventured. "Have you quarrelled already?"
"You refer to the Mexican dancer?" she questioned, glancing aside at
him curiously. "Really, I did not remember having heard the girl's
name mentioned before. Do you know her?"
"Only as she is announced on the bills, and having seen her dance from
the front of the house. She is certainly a true artist in her line,
the most expert I recall ever having seen. What has ever made her your
enemy?"
"I am sure I do not know. Her words were a complete surprise; I was
too greatly astonished even to resent them. I have never spoken to the
girl until to-night, and then merely uttered a sentence of sincere
congratulation. She is extremely pretty, and it seems quite too bad
she should be compelled to lead such a life. She does not appear older
than seventeen."
He glanced about at her in surprise.
"Such a life," he echoed, recklessly. "So then you actually pity
others while remaining totally unconcerned regarding yourself?"
"Oh, no; you greatly mistake, or else wilfully misconstrue. I am not
unconcerned, yet there is a very wide difference, I am sure. This girl
is at the Gayety from deliberate choice; she as much as told me so.
She is in love with that sort of life. Probably she has never known
anything better, while I am merely fighting out a bit of hard luck,
and, within two weeks, at the longest, shall again be free. Surely,
you cannot hint that we stand upon the same level."
"God forbid!" fervently. "Yet just as sincerely I wish you did not
deem it necessary to remain for even that brief length of time. It is
a shock to me to realize your intimate association with such depraved
characters. You are surely aware that my purse remains at your
disposal, if you will only cut the whole thing."
She lifted her eyes reproachfully to his face.
"Yes, I know; and possibly you are justified according to your code for
feeling in that way. But I do not believe I am becoming in the least
contaminated by evil associations, nor do I feel any lowering of moral
ideals. I am doing what I imagine to be right under the circumstances,
and have already given you my final decision, as well as my reason for
it. You say 'such depraved characters.' Can you refer to this
Mercedes? Strange as it may seem, I confess feeling an interest in
this beautiful Mexican girl. What is it you know regarding her?"
The young man impulsively started to speak, but as instantly paused.
An instinctive dread of uttering those plain words he would much prefer
she should never hear served to soften his language.