was, of course; you got riled and came out with it. A great pity.
She had all but forgot him; now she'll never rest till she's found him
out. And you might have seen how much more to your advantage it was to
keep a thing like that quiet."

Unwonted mental disturbance was playing tricks with Polly's complexion.
She evidently feared to compromise herself, and at the same time
desired to know all that was in her companion's mind.

"What business is it of yours?" was the crude phrase that at length
fell from her lips, uttered half-heartedly, between resentment and
jesting.

"Well, there's the point," replied Gammon, with a laugh. "Queer thing,
but it just happens to be particular business of mine."

Polly stared. He nodded.

"There's such a thing, Polly, as going halves in a secret. I've been
wondering these last few days whether I should tell you or not. But
we're getting on so well together--eh? Better than I expected, for one.
I shouldn't feel I was doing right, Polly, if I took any advantage of
you."

She was growing excited. Her wiles had given way before superior
stratagem, and perhaps before something in herself that played traitor.

"You mean you know about him?" she asked, almost confidentially.

"Not all I want to--yet. He's a sharp customer. But considerably more
than you do, Polly, my dear."

"I don't believe you!"

"That has nothing to do with it. Suppose you ask me a question or two.
I might be able to tell you something you would like to know."

It was said, of course, without any suspicion of the real state of
things; but Gammon saw at once that he had excited an eager curiosity.

"You know where he is, then?" asked Polly.

"Well--we'll say so."

"Where? When did _you_ see him last?"

"We're going too quickly, old girl. The question is, When did you see
him last?"

"Ah! you'd like to know, wouldn't you?"

Gammon burst out laughing, ever the surest way of baffling a silly
woman. Polly grew hot with anger, then subsided into mortification. She
knew the weakness of her position, and inclined ever more to make an
ally of the man who had overcome her in battle and carried her off in
his arms.

"And the other question is," Gammon proceeded, as if enjoying a huge
joke, "When did you see him first?"

"I suppose you know?" she murmured reluctantly.

"Let us suppose I do. And suppose I am trying to make up my mind about
the best way of dealing with the little affair. As I told you, I wish
Mr