“Yes, yes, we must,” Baldwin said absently. “But perhaps Wayne does not know what this woman is. We must tell him somehow. That will be the end of it, I’m sure.”

“Father,” said Alice, “the easiest solution is to get him to accompany me to Europe. At once.”

“But he’s just come home, my dear.”

“That doesn’t make any difference. It is the only way out. If he remains in town he is bound to continue seeing this woman.”

“Perhaps you are right. We must try to persuade him that that is the best course.”

They were both startled when Wayne appeared in the doorway. He looked from one to the other.

“Hello,” he said, “what’s up? They told me at the office, Dad, that you left for home in a rush. They suspected something was the matter so I followed right after you.”

Baldwin Senior forced a smile.

“Alice made up her mind suddenly that she wants to go to Europe right away.”

Wayne smiled.

“What’s the matter? Have a scrap with Jack?”

“No,” said Alice with a cold stare.

“Alice thought that you might go abroad with her.”

Wayne laughed.

“But I’ve just got back. Why doesn’t Alice wait till she and Jack are married, and make the trip with him?”

“We’ve decided you had better go with her, Wayne.”

Wayne frowned in annoyance. There was something wrong here.

“I don’t see the necessity of my going to Europe with Alice. There is plenty for me to do here.”

“Keeping that terrible woman amused, I suppose,” Alice said cuttingly.

Wayne flushed.

“What’s that? What do you mean?”

“My boy,” said his father, “we know you are involved with a woman. We have learned from reliable sources that she is an undesirable character, to say the least.”

Wayne hesitated. What did they know? Where had they secured any information?

“Well, yes,” he said, “I admit that I’m very much interested in a certain young woman. There’s no secret in that.”

“Perhaps not,” said Alice, “but she seems to have kept certain secrets concerning her past from you very well.”

Wayne flared up.

“Well, what of it ? You’ve no business to intrude on my private life.”

Alice was bitterly sarcastic, now.

“Your private life seems to be an open book. You appear to be one of very few who don’t know that this girl you are so ready to defend is a former street-walker!”

“That’s a lie!” he exploded. “A damn lie! Who ever started that story is some blackmailer, and I can prove it!”

“Yes,” said Alice. “I suppose you are fool enough to believe her in preference to facts.”

“You keep out of my affairs, do you hear? You can’t control me like a puppet!”

Alice sneered coldly.

“This woman is not worthy of the exalted opinion you evidently honor her with.”

“Confound your puritanical meddling, Alice!”