"Ah! if he acknowledge' his compunction he's all right! But we are
stopping the story."

It went on.]




XIV

I was awakened, after the breakfast hour, by a tap on my door. Why it
gave me consternation I could not have told; I dare say my inveracities
of the day before had failed to digest. "Come in," I called, and in
stepped my two fishermen.

Their good mornings were pleasant, but, "Fact is," said one, "we're
bothered about your client."

"The lady who passed through here last evening?"

"Yes, it looks as though----"

"Go on while I dress. Looks as though--what?"

"As though she wa'n't what you thought, or else----"

I smiled aggressively: "Pardon, I _know_ that lady. 'Or else,' you
say? What else? Go on."

"Oh, you go on dressing. Do you know them darkies are hers?"