I'd like to know? Why, this man flouts religion, and denounces the Church, and preys on society, and"
"Well, Jane," interrupted Westgate, "suppose we put all that aside for the moment, and you go on and tell us what you saw at the bridge."
"Yes. Well, I saw them start across the bridge together, and before they got half-way over they stopped and—really, this isn't very nice to tell."
"Probably not," said Westgate, "but we can't tell whether or not it was very nice to do until we hear what it was they did."
"Well, if you force me to tell it, why, I saw him put his arm around her waist, and pull her close up to him and—and kiss her."
"You astonish me!" exclaimed Westgate. "This thing was done in the early evening, under the glare of the electric lamp, in full view of any person who might be passing?"
"Exactly! It was scandalous, Phil. And they weren't satisfied with doing it once; they repeated it, and then she actually walked the rest of the way across the bridge with his arm around her waist. Barry Malleson, what do you think of that?"
"I don't know," replied Barry, uncertainly, "that it has anything to do with me."
It was apparent, nevertheless, that the news had impressed him profoundly. And to that extent at least Miss Chichester had made her point.
"But you do know," she persisted, "that a woman who conducts herself so scandalously is not a proper person for you to associate with. Phil will tell you so, won't you, Phil? He'll tell you that it's dangerous. That you're likely to get caught in the trap of an adventuress."
Westgate turned soberly to Barry.
"If what Jane tells us is true," he said, "and I have no particular reason to doubt her word, you've been skating on very thin ice, young man, very thin ice."
