"I want no secret, sir, except for Mimi's good. For myself, I should
like to shout it from the house-tops! But we must be discreet; untimely
knowledge to our enemy might work incalculable harm."

"And how would you suggest, Adam, that we could combine the momentous
question with secrecy?"

Adam grew red and moved uneasily.

"Someone must ask her--as soon as possible!"

"And that someone?"

"I thought that you, sir, would be so good!"

"God bless my soul! This is a new kind of duty to take on--at my time of
life. Adam, I hope you know that you can count on me to help in any way
I can!"

"I have already counted on you, sir, when I ventured to make such a
suggestion. I can only ask," he added, "that you will be more than ever
kind to me--to us--and look on the painful duty as a voluntary act of
grace, prompted by kindness and affection."

"Painful duty!"

"Yes," said Adam boldly. "Painful to you, though to me it would be all
joyful."

"It is a strange job for an early morning! Well, we all live and learn.