he and no other who had thus shocked the proprieties
of this orderly household? It certainly seemed so; yet where all was
strange, this strange and incomprehensible denial of a self-evident fact
by the vindictive Nixon might have its source in some motive unsuggested
by the circumstances. Certainly, Nixon's mistress appeared to have a
great deal of confidence in him.

I wished that more had been told me about the handsome secretary. I
wished that fate would give me another opportunity for seeing that
gentleman and putting the same direct question to him I had put to
Nixon.

Scarcely had this thought crossed my mind before a loud ring at the
telephone disturbed the quiet below and I heard the secretary's voice in
reply. A minute after he appeared at the foot of the stairs. His aspect
was one of embarrassment, and he peered aloft in a hesitating way, as if
he hardly knew how to proceed.

Taking advantage of this hesitation, I ran softly down to meet him.

"Any message for Mrs. Packard?" I asked.

He looked relieved.

"Yes, from his Honor. The mayor is unavoidably detained and may not be
home till morning."

"I will tell her." Then, as he reached for his overcoat, I risked all on
one venture, and enlarging a little on the facts, said:

"Excuse me, but was it you we heard laughing down-stairs a few minutes
ago? Mrs. Packard feared it might be some follower of the girls'."

Pausing in the act of putting on his coat, he met my look with an air of
some surprise.

"I am not given to laughing," he remarked; "certainly not when alone."

"But you heard this laugh?"

He shook his head. His manner was perfectly courteous, almost cordial.

"If I did, it made no impression on my mind. I am extremely busy just
now, working up the mayor's next speech." And with a smile and bow in
every way suited to his fine appearance, he took his hat from the rack
and left the house.

I drew back more mystified than ever. Which of these two men had told me
a lie? One, both, or neither? Impossible to determine. As I try never
to waste gray matter, I resolved to spend no further energy on this
question, but simply to await the next development.

It came unexpectedly and was of an entirely different nature from any I
had anticipated.

I had not retired, not knowing at what moment the mayor might return
or what I might be called upon to do when he did. It will be remembered
that one of my windows looked out upon the next house. I appro