Big party.
Champagne.
Girls--"
"At--at Belle Watling's?"
Melanie's voice rose until it cracked with such pain that all eyes turned frightenedly to her.
Her hand went clutching at her bosom and, before Archie could catch her, she had fainted.
Then a hubbub ensued, Archie picking her up, India running to the kitchen for water, Pitty and Scarlett fanning her and slapping her wrists, while Hugh Elsing shouted over and over:
"Now you've done it!
Now you've done it!"
"Now it'll be all over town," said Rhett savagely.
"I hope you're satisfied, Tom.
There won't be a wife in Atlanta who'll speak to her husband tomorrow."
"Rhett, I had no idea--" Though the chill wind was blowing through the open door on his back, the captain was perspiring.
"Look here!
You take an oath they were at--er--at Belle's?"
"Hell, yes," growled Rhett.
"Go ask Belle herself if you don't believe me.
Now, let me carry Mrs. Wilkes to her room.
Give her to me, Archie.
Yes, I can carry her.
Miss Pitty, go ahead with a lamp."
He took Melanie's limp body from Archie's arms with ease.
"You get Mr. Wilkes to bed, Archie.
I don't want to ever lay eyes or hands on him again after this night."
Pitty's hand trembled so that the lamp was a menace to the safety of the house but she held it and trotted ahead toward the dark bedroom.
Archie, with a grunt, got an arm under Ashley and raised him.
"But--I've got to arrest these men!"
Rhett turned in the dim hallway.
"Arrest them in the morning then.
They can't run away in this condition--and I never knew before that it was illegal to get drunk in a sporting house.
Good God, Tom, there are fifty witnesses to prove they were at Belle's."
"There are always fifty witnesses to prove a Southerner was somewhere he wasn't," said the captain morosely.
"You come with me, Mr. Elsing.
I'll parole Mr. Wilkes on the word of--"
"I am Mr. Wilkes' sister.
I will answer for his appearance," said India coldly.
"Now, will you please go?
You've caused enough trouble for one night."
"I regret it exceedingly."
The captain bowed awkwardly.
"I only hope they can prove their presence at the--er--Miss--Mrs. Watling's house.
Will you tell your brother that he must appear before the provost marshal tomorrow morning for questioning?"
India bowed coldly and, putting her hand upon the door knob, intimated silently that his speedy retirement would be welcome.
The captain and the sergeant backed out, Hugh Elsing with them, and she slammed the door behind them.
Without even looking at Scarlett, she went swiftly to each window and drew down the shade.
Scarlett, her knees shaking, caught hold of the chair in which Ashley had been sitting to steady herself.
Looking down at it, she saw that there was a dark moist spot, larger than her hand, on the cushion in the back of the chair.
Puzzled, her hand went over it and, to her horror, a sticky red wetness appeared on her palm.
"India," she whispered, "India, Ashley's--he's hurt."
"You fool!