when he's in love (and he can't possibly be in love since he's
married) or when he's in debt, I fear that he is still feeling the
effect of that rosy adventure."

A telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply, and T. X.
picked up the receiver. He listened intently.

"A trunk call," he said over his shoulder to the departing
commissioner, "it may be something interesting."

A little pause; then a hoarse voice spoke to him. "Is that you,
T. X.?"

"That's me," said the Assistant Commissioner, commonly.

"It's John Lexman speaking."

"I shouldn't have recognized your voice," said T. X., "what is
wrong with you, John, can't you get your plot to went?"

"I want you to come down here at once," said the voice urgently,
and even over the telephone T. X. recognized the distress. "I
have shot a man, killed him!"

T. X. gasped.

"Good Lord," he said, "you are a silly ass!"