as lighting a fire, for, though it was only the last of September,
the nights were chilly. I snatched up the evening paper to see if by
any chance a hint of the scandal had crept into print. I felt sure
that, as matters stood, they would not dare to put in anything
definite, but _The Sun_ has a nasty way of writing all around a
scandal, so that, while the persons involved are readily recognized,
they are quite helpless as far as redress is concerned.

I noticed that Wicks had taken an infernally long time to start the
fire. Although it was burning merrily, he still puttered about,
brushing up the chips and rearranging the blower and tongs. When Wicks
hangs about he usually has a question on his mind that he wants
answered, and he takes that means of letting you know it. I decided
not to notice him but to force him to come out in the open and ask, for
once, a straightforward question. From the fire, he moved to the table
and straightened the magazines and books, glancing now and then in my
direction, trying to catch my eye, but I buried myself more deeply than
ever in the paper. When he finally stepped back of my chair, human
nature could stand his puttering no longer, so I laid down _The Sun_,
and turned to him.

"Well, Wicks, what do you want?" I snapped.

Wicks looked at me with the expression of a small boy caught
sticky-handed in the jam-closet.

"Nothing, sir!--that is--er--nothing." He turned and started from the
room.

"Come here, Wicks!" I called. "I know when you hang around a room
unnecessarily, as you have been doing for the last ten minutes, that
you have something on your mind. Now, out with it."

"I was merely going to arsk, sir, hif I 'ad better begin lookin' arfter
another place, sir?"

That was an extraordinary question. Wicks had been with the Feldersons
ever since they were married.

"What put that idea into your head, Wicks?"

He was far more confused than I had ever seen him.

"Meanin' no disrespect, sir, and I don't mean to be hinquisitive about
what doesn't concern me, but I couldn't 'elp 'earin' a bit of what took
place this arfternoon, sir."

Good lord! I'd forgotten there might have been other witnesses to the
scene of the afternoon besides myself.

"Do the other servants know about this, Wicks?"

"Hi think they do, sir, seein' as 'ow Mrs. Felderson 'as been actin'
and talkin' so queer."

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

Wicks struggled for composure. The subjec