sider the authorities. Naturally,
being our consul, he'd like to do his best for all Americans; but he
has to be careful. You can understand that, can't you?"

"Why, sure!" agreed Waters warmly. "It's mighty good of you to feel
like that about me, Miss Pilgrim; and I ain't blamin' Selby any. He
was born like that, I guess sort o' poor white trash and his folks
didn't find it out in time to smother him. But I wish I was consul
here for a time and he'd come to me to have me fix somethin' for him.
I'd cert'nly like to have him know how it feels."

"Ah, but I know," she said earnestly. "I can guess like having no
home or friends or even a country of your own to belong to. Like
finding out suddenly that Uncle Sam wasn't your uncle after all! Tell
me, was it what they did to you, I mean was it very bad?"

He smiled a little wryly, looking down into her serious face.

"Well, it wasn't very good," he answered. "It wasn't meant to be. It
ain't often these people get a white man to practice on, an' they
sure made the most o' the chance. But it didn't kill me; and, anyway,
there ain't any reason why it should trouble you, Miss Pilgrim."

He had a feeling that he preferred her to be immune from the
knowledge and understanding of such things, to be and remain a mere
eyeful of delicate and stimulating feminine effect. But upon his
words she half halted, turning to him; she drew a hand from her muff
and her fingers touched his sleeve.

"No reason?" she repeated. "Ah, but there is! There is a reason. I
haven't got any official position or anything to lose at all. I don't
have to consider anybody. So next time if there is a next time I want
you to come straight away to me."

He stared at her, not understanding her sudden excitement. "To you,
Miss Pilgrim? You mean come round to Selby's again?"

"No, no!" She shook her head impatiently. "You know it's no use to go
there. But I live close by here; I'm taking you there now; and I want
you to come to me. Then I'll see the Chief of Police for you; I know
him quite well."

"So do I," said Waters. "He's a crook. But say, Miss Pilgrim, I don't
just see."

She interrupted him. "I'll explain what I mean and then you'll see
that it's all right. But now I want you to come home and have a glass
of tea and see where I live. It's Number Thirteen only two houses
more. You will come, won't you?"

"I'll be glad to," answered he.

The house to which she brought him had a cavernous courtyard