ustin, in a purposely subdued tone.

"Your--what?"

"My wife. But let's take a walk. Your friend's auto won't be ready to
move for some time, I should judge."

The elder man, who had been feeling ill and tired, sprang out of the car
with a sudden increase of liveliness. Dolores and Hammersley-Fisher
stood with their backs to the two men. Heron's wife turned for a glance,
but let them walk away without a question. She was flirting with her
host.

Dolores was saying to Hammersley-Fisher: "I dislike Mrs. Roger Sands
intensely. I wouldn't dream of going to her house if her husband hadn't
at one time done quite a service--legally, I mean--to mine. I don't
often talk like this about people I'm going to visit. But if I could
tell you the things that woman has done you wouldn't blame me."

To O'Reilly Heron was repeating, as they walked along:

"Your wife, did you say?"

"I did say. But before I go on I've a question or so to ask. You got my
wire, advising you to be careful, and hinting that some of the old lot
had bobbed up along your life line?"

"Yes. We were out all the afternoon. I found the wire this evening when
we got back to Hammersley-Fisher's place to dress for this show at Roger
Sands'. Now will you tell me----"

"I'll tell you this, that my opinion of Mrs. Roger Sands has changed.
You shall hear why presently. I rather think it will give you pleasure
to change yours--when you can conscientiously. As for Sands himself,
I've learned that we have both done him an injustice in regard to those
papers."

"How have you learned all this?"

"From the same person who wished me to put you on your guard--made me
call you up at Narragansett, and wire when I couldn't reach you by
'phone!"

"Who is this person?"

"My wife. And if you want to know who she is----"

"I most certainly do."

"I could introduce you to her in about two minutes if I weren't afraid
of her giving you another shock."

"Another--shock?"

"As she did on the Sunday night at our hotel when you had your--little
attack. Heron, I've married that girl; the most wonderful girl in the
world."

Heron stopped short.

"That girl!--you--have--_married_ that girl?"

"Yes," said Justin, "I married her this morning. So, if you'd been
inclined to forbid the banns, you're too late."

For an instant Heron did not speak. But when words came, he seemed to
fling them at his friend: "You're not joking when you say that,
O'Reilly. You have a meaning. W