"And Helen stay with me," he repeated calmly.

"Of her own free will?"

"Of her own free will," he answered.

"I should say that the events of the day had addled your brain and that
you are a damned inconsiderate brother-in-law to try to make a fool of
me."

"I mean it, Bupps," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"That everything will come out all right," he smiled.

"But how, man?" His complacency almost drove me wild.

"Bupps, have you noticed how much money Woods has been spending around
here--his extravagant way of living? Where do you think that money
comes from?"

"His contracts with the French Government," I replied.

"But I happen to know he didn't land those contracts. That's the
reason he beat it so suddenly when we got into the war." He tossed his
cigarette into the fire.

"His salary from the French, then. They must have paid him some kind
of salary."

"Have you never heard what ridiculously small salaries the French
Government pays its officers?"

It was true that Woods could never have lived as he did on ten times
the salary of a French captain.

"His own private fortune then," I suggested.

"Ah! There's the point! If he has a private fortune, then my whole
case falls to pieces. That's what I've got to find out. Woods has
been playing for a big stake, and I think he has been playing with
other people's money. Did you notice how he flushed this afternoon
when I suggested looking into his private affairs? It was the veriest
accident--I was stalling for time--but when I saw him color up I knew
I'd touched a sore spot. No, Bupps, I don't think Woods has a private
fortune."

"But even if you show him up as worthless, will Helen come back to you,
Jim?"

The color came to his face and he laughed with a queer twist to his
mouth.

"Am I as horrible as all that, Bupps?"

His words brought a lump to my throat. I went over to him and almost
hugged him.

"Jim, you're such a peach--dammit all--"

I heard a light step behind me.

"Oh, Bupps!" laughed Mary, "if you'd only make love to me in that
ardent fashion, I'd drag you to the altar by your few remaining hairs."

I stood up, blushing in spite of myself. She can always make me feel
that whatever I am doing is either stupid or foolish.

"Dinner is served, and I'm starving. Come on, people!" she announced,
leading the way to the dining-room.

"Where's Helen?" I asked.

"She's not coming down. She has a