s went up. "Indeed!" he said.

The weak man could not face out Evan's indignant stare. "Oh, I don't
blame you," he mumbled. "But I'm sorry I listened to you yesterday.
Mrs. Deaves is heartbroken at what she considers my deception."

Evan reflected grimly that a broken heart does not customarily take
itself out in hysterics, but he kept the reflection to himself.

"You will have to go," said George Deaves.

Suddenly a hurricane blew into the room in the person of Maud Deaves
with her hair and kimono flying. The innocent Evan stood aghast at the
terrible secrets of the boudoir that were revealed. The magnificent
Mrs. Deaves was reduced by rage to the level of a furious fish-wife,
but lower, for no fish-wife ever so far neglects self-interest in her
rage. Mrs. Deaves' face was splotched and livid; unbridled passion had
added fifteen years. She addressed her husband with a ridiculous
assumption of calmness.

"They told me this person was here. I came down to see that you did
your duty! This clever rascal has twisted you about his finger once
too often for me!"

Evan flushed up. "Are you referring to me?"

"Yes I am!" she cried. "You've been a nuisance in the house from the
first with your officious meddling! You take too much on yourself!
You forget your place!"

"Good Heavens, madam, _I_ didn't write the story about your marriage!"
said Evan with meaning.

It never reached her. In the fury she had worked up, she had
conveniently forgotten that she had written it herself. "Don't answer
me back!" she cried, beside herself. "I don't know whether you did or
not. I don't know whether you're more a rascal or a fool! But I know
we're done with you. You're discharged, do you understand? You can
go!"

Evan stared at her in frank amazement. Then he laughed. He was sorely
tempted to tell what he knew, but when he looked at the crushed figure
at the desk, he hadn't the heart. He wasn't going to take his
dismissal from her, though.

"Mr. Deaves, do you wish me to go?" he asked.

George Deaves nodded.

"Very well," said Evan. "It suits me!" He bowed ironically to each of
them, and left the room.

In the lower hall on his way out he was arrested by a cautious "Sst!
Sst!" The old man appeared from around a corner. With many a furtive
look over his shoulder, he pulled Evan into the small reception room
off the hall.

"Did they fire you?" he asked.

"They did," said Evan grimly.

"Well, well