Free Her Forbidden Knight by Rex Stout

and then the strident voice of the Venus at the cigar stand rose above all other sounds as she gave a pointed retort to an intimate or jocular remark of a customer. At intervals the bell on the hotel desk gave forth its jarring jingle.
    At five o’clock the crowd in the lobby began to disappear. There came intervals in the confused hum of voices and steps. Half past five arrived; and six. Lila put on her hat and coat and arranged the papers on her deck.
    She would not linger tonight; that was over, she told herself. Henceforth she would be sensible, and—and forget.
    The lobby was nearly empty except for the Erring Knights, who were gathered in the corner, seemingly engaged in a hot discussion. Lila noticed that Sherman, while apparently attentive to his companions, was watching her covertly, and she surmised that he intended to follow her as he had the evening before, and escort her home.
    Why not? she asked herself bitterly. At least he cared.
    She stooped to put on her rubbers, and, having some difficulty with one of them, remained for some time with her head lowered. When she sat up, with flushed face and hair disarranged, she found herself looking into the eyes of John Knowlton.
    He stood by her desk, hat in hand, with an air of embarrassment and hesitation. Evidently he was waiting for her to speak; but, overcome with surprise, she found no words.
    A glance over his shoulder showed her the Erring Knights standing across the lobby, regarding Knowlton with open hostility.
    Finally he spoke.
    “I feel I owe you an explanation,” he said with an apparent effort. “I hope you don’t think there was anything wrong about—what you told me this morning.”
    Lila’s wounded pride came to her assistance and gave her strength. This was the man to whom she had given so much, and from whom she had received so little. Worse, he was aware of her weakness. Yet must he learn that she was worthy of his respect, and her own. And yet—why had he returned? She hesitated.
    “I don’t know what to think,” she said doubtfully.
    “It will take some time to explain,” said Knowlton. “And I want you—if you can—to think well of me. I wonder if you’d be angry if I asked you to go to dinner with me. Will you go?”
    Lila caught her breath, while her heart contracted with a joy so keen as to be painful. Of course she ought not to accept his invitation. She felt that that would somehow be wrong.
    Besides, he must not be allowed to believe that her favors could be had for the asking. But how her heart was beating! And she said:
    “I—I am not dressed for it, Mr. Knowlton.”
    “We could go to some quiet little place,” he urged. “I know you have been thinking horrible things of me today, and with reason. And of course, if you think I am not—not worthy”—
    “Oh, it is not that!” Lila exclaimed.
    “Then, will you go?”
    And though Lila was silent, he must have read her answer in her eyes, for he picked up her umbrella and opened the gate of the railing for her, and they started down the lobby side by side.
    Halfway to the door Lila halted and turned to face the Erring Knights, who had neither stirred nor spoken since the entrance of Knowlton.
    “Good night!” she called cheerily.
    But there was no response. The six gallant protectors returned her gaze in grim and frigid silence.
    A little back of the others Lila saw Sherman’s dark face, with his lips parted in a snarl of hate. She shivered slightly and turned to her companion.
    “Come!” she said, and in spite of her effort to control it her voice trembled a little.
    Knowlton opened the door and they passed out together.

CHAPTER VI.
The Transformation
    A WAITING TAXICAB STOOD OUTSIDE THE HOTEL. Knowlton helped Lila inside and got in after her.
    “Now,” he asked, “where shall we go?”
    Lila murmured something about her dress, and left the decision to him. Knowlton leaned forward and spoke to the driver.
    “Restaurant Lucia, Thirty-seventh Street, near