a moment!" and in the same calm, almost
childish voice: "Oh, Howard, is that you? Yes, I know I promised not to
do this, but that was before things happened! ... Well, what am I to do
when it is necessary to talk to you? ... Yes, it is necessary! ... I tell
you it is necessary! ... I am sorry it is not convenient for you to talk
to me, but I really must ask you to listen! ... No, I shall not write. I
want to talk to you to-night--now! Yes, you may come here, if you care
to! ... I think you had better come, Howard. ... Because I am liable to
continue ringing your telephone until you are willing to listen. ... No,
there is nobody here. I am alone. What time? ... Very well; I shall expect
you. Good-bye."

She hung up the receiver and turned to Mortimer:

"He's coming up at once. Did I say anything to scare him particularly?"

"One thing's sure as preaching," said Mortimer; "he's a coward, and I'm
dammed glad of it," he added naively, relighting his cigar, which had
gone out.

"If he comes up in his motor he'll be here in a few minutes," she said.
"Suppose you take your hat and go out. I don't want him to think what
he will think if he walks into the room and finds you waiting. You have
your key, Leroy. Walk down the block; and when you see him come in, give
him five minutes."

Her voice had become a little breathless, and her colour was high.
Mortimer, too, seemed apprehensive. Things had suddenly begun to work
themselves out too swiftly.

"Do you think that's best?" he faltered, looking about for his hat.
"Tell Merkle that nobody has been here, if Quarrier should ask him. Do
you think we're doing it in the best way, Lydia? By God, it smells of a
put-up job to me! But I guess it's all right. It's better for me to just
happen in, isn't it? Don't forget to put Merkle wise."

He descended the stairs hastily. Merkle, of the invisible eyes, held his
hat and gloves and opened the door for him.

Once on the dark street, his impulse was to flee--get out, get away from
the whole business. A sullen shame was pumping the hot blood up into his
neck and cheeks. He strove to find an inoffensive name for what he was
proposing to do, but ugly terms, synonym after synonym, crowded in to
characterise the impending procedure, and he walked on angrily, half
frightened, looking back from moment to moment at the house he had just
left.

On the corner he halted, breathing spasmodically, for he had struck a
smarter pace than he had bee