sure I am not bringing you out of the way?"

"Not at all," I answered hastily. "The fact is, I had hoped to have a
little chat with you when we had disposed of the 'Thumbograph,' so I can
regard myself as combining a little business with a great deal of
pleasure if I am allowed to accompany you."

She gave me a little ironical bow as she inquired--

"And, in short, I may take it that I am to be pumped?"

"Come, now," I retorted. "You have been plying the pump handle pretty
vigorously yourself. But that is not my meaning at all. You see, we are
absolute strangers to all the parties concerned in this case, which, of
course, makes for an impartial estimate of their characters. But, after
all, knowledge is more useful to us than impartiality. There is our
client, for instance. He impressed us both very favourably, I think; but
he might have been a plausible rascal with the blackest of records. Then
you come and tell us that he is a gentleman of stainless character and
we are at once on firmer ground."

"I see," said Miss Gibson thoughtfully; "and suppose that I or some one
else had told you things that seemed to reflect on his character. Would
they have influenced you in your attitude towards him?"

"Only in this," I replied; "that we should have made it our business to
inquire into the truth of those reports and ascertain their origin."

"That is what one should always do, I suppose," said she, still with an
air of deep thoughtfulness which encouraged me to inquire--