on the floor!"

The tragedy in Elsa's eyes at this awful relation of the cruelty of
the sterner sex called for a spoken sympathy, and I said at once, and
heartily: "That was horrid of him! If I were you I'd never give him
another flower."

In accordance with the natural impulses of her sex, Elsa seemed pleased
at my disapproval of Louis's behavior, but she by no means looked as if
she would never again bestow her favor upon him. She smiled and tossed
her head, and seemed willing enough for further conversation, but for
the moment I felt that I had enough food for thought. So I dismissed
Elsa, having first admonished her not to repeat our conversation to any
one. In order to make sure that I should be obeyed in this matter, I
threatened her with some unknown terrors which the law would bring upon
her if she disobeyed me. When I felt sure she was thoroughly frightened
into secrecy concerning our interview, I sent her away and began to
cogitate on what she had told me.

If Louis came to the house late that night, as by his own admission
he did; if he went around the house on the side of the office, as the
straying transfer seemed to me to prove; and if, at the time, he was
wearing in his coat a yellow rose with petals similar to those found on
the office floor the next morning, was not one justified in looking more
deeply into the record of Louis the valet?

XII. LOUIS'S CONFESSION

Elsa had been gone but a few moments when Florence Lloyd returned to the
library. I arose to greet her and marvelled at the change which had come
over her. Surely here was a girl of a thousand moods. She had left
me with an effect of hauteur and disdain; she returned, gentle and
charming, almost humble. I could not understand it, and remained
standing after she had seated herself, awaiting developments.

"Sit down, Mr. Burroughs," she said, and her low, sweet voice seemed
full of cordial invitation. "I'm afraid I was rude to you, when I went
away just now; and I want to say that if I can tell you anything you
wish to know, I should be glad to do so."

I drew up a chair and seated myself near her. My heart was pounding with
excitement at this new phase of the girl's nature. For an instant it
seemed as if she must have a personal kindly feeling toward me, and
then my reason returned, and with a suddenly falling heart and slowing
pulses, I realized that I was a fool, and that after thinking over the
disclosures Louis had made, Mis