founded.

"Not a part of my set. I am sorry to disappoint you, but so it is. I
will even explain, for I sympathize with you. I told you the set was
originally seven. So it was, but the seventh button has the head of
Shakespeare on it. All seven were given to me by my friend, but as I
could wear but six, I returned to her this odd Shakespeare button, which
I had made into a breast-pin, and kept the others, thus reducing the set
of buttons to six. The seventh is no longer a button, you see."

"But how do you account for the fact that this button which I have is
plainly a portrait of your friend, and a counterpart to those on your
vest?"

"My dear Mr. Barnes, I don't account for it. I don't have to, you know.
That sort of thing is your business."

"What if I should decide to arrest you at once, and ask a jury to
determine whether your original set included this button or not?"

"That would be inconvenient to me, of course. But it is one of those
things that we risk every day. I mean arrest by some blundering
detective. Pardon me, do not get angry again; I do not allude to
yourself. I am quite sure that you are too shrewd to arrest me."

"And why so pray?"

"Because I am surely not going to run away in the first place, and
secondly you would gain nothing, since it would be so easy for me to
prove all that I have told you, and in your mind you are saying to
yourself that I have not lied to you. Really I have not."

"I have only one thing more to say to you, Mr. Mitchel," said Mr.
Barnes, rising. "Will you show me that seventh button, or breast-pin?"

"That is asking a great deal, but I will grant your request upon one
condition. Think well before you make the bargain. When I made that
wager I did not calculate the possibility of entangling in my scandal
the name of the woman whom I love dearest on earth. That is the portrait
of the woman who will soon become my wife. As I have said, she has the
other button and wears it constantly. You will gain nothing by seeing
it, for it will simply corroborate my word, which I think you believe
now. I will take you to her and she will tell you of these buttons, if
you promise me never to annoy her in any way in connection with this
affair."

"I will give you that promise cheerfully. I have no wish to annoy a
lady."

"That is for you to decide. Meet me in the lobby at noon precisely, and
I will take you to her house. And now will you excuse me whilst I
complete my toilet?"