to
voicing it. It was nothing, believe me. There--it is gone!"

"Which is to be deplored," I soberly returned. "I attach considerable
importance to your thoughts. Besides, you opened this conversation with
an assurance of frankness. Perhaps--so far--I have n't been as frank as
I might; but it's simply because I have not yet found words to tell you
all you want to know."

At once she stripped the occasion of its seriousness.

"Dear me!" she laughed, "you are a diplomat, too; how alluringly you
persuade one to talk! Very well. If the impertinence of my poor little
idea will not drive you to changing your opinion, I will put it into
words."

I waited.

"I wondered," she continued shyly, "supposing I knew every detail of this
crime that you know--if I could aid you any. Only in this one particular
case," she made haste to add, "because it means so much to me."

My pulses leaped. The idea of having this lovely girl as a coadjutor, to
give her sharp wits free play with the harassing minutiae which had not
only arisen but were bound to continue to arise as I went deeper into the
mystery, was one that filled me with joy.

After all, doubtless I had been unnecessarily considerate of her
feelings. Miss Cooper was a gentlewoman, to be sure; but it did not
inevitably follow that she was too sensitive to harken to a distasteful
topic. I know that my features must have reflected my feelings at this
moment, for the color began to grow deeper and deeper in her pretty face,
and at last she sprang nervously to her feet.

"It was only a silly impulse," she deplored, in a flustered rejection of
the scheme; "it was very stupid of me to express it. Pray forget it. . .
. I--I must go." She darted an uncomfortable glance toward the door.

I did not stir. She was so lovely in her discomposure, so inexpressibly
winning, that I sat there with my heart throbbing as it had never
throbbed before.

Make her my confidante? Every nerve of my body thrilled at the thought.
And the incentive that had prompted the proposal left it shorn of all
forwardness or presumption. I appreciated the cause of her agitation;
and at last, with an effort, I hid my own emotions behind an appearance
of calmness.

"Please sit down again," I entreated. "It is a bargain."

She stood irresolute, poised for flight, yet constrained by a desire to
return again to the settle. Her color was still high, her eyes were
sparkling, she was breathing fas