t. x. sat at his desk, his chin in his hands, his mind remarkablybusy. grave as the matter was which he was considering, he rosewith alacrity to meet the smiling girl who was ushered through thedoor by mansus, preternaturally solemn and mysterious.
she was radiant that day. her eyes were sparkling with an unusualbrightness.
"i've got the most wonderful thing to tell you," she said, "and ican't tell you.""that's a very good beginning," said t. x., taking her muff fromher hand.
"oh, but it's really wonderful," she cried eagerly, "morewonderful than anything you have ever heard about.""we are interested," said t. x. blandly.
"no, no, you mustn't make fun," she begged, "i can't tell you now,but it is something that will make you simply - "she was at a lossfor a simile.
"jump out of my skin?" suggested t. x.
"i shall astonish you," she nodded her head solemnly.
"i take a lot of astonishing, i warn you," he smiled; "to know youis to exhaust one's capacity for surprise.""that can be either very, very nice or very, very nasty," she saidcautiously.
"but accept it as being very, very nice," he laughed. "now come,out with this tale of yours."she shook her head very vigorously.
"i can't possibly tell you anything," she said.
"then why the dickens do you begin telling anything for?" hecomplained, not without reason.
"because i just want you to know that i do know something.""oh, lord!" he groaned. "of course you know everything. belindamary, you're really the most wonderful child."he sat on the edge of her arm-chair and laid his hand on hershoulder.
"and you've come to take me out to lunch!""what were you worrying about when i came in?" she asked.
he made a little gesture as if to dismiss the subject.
"nothing very much. you've heard me speak of john lexman?"she bent her head.
"lexman's the writer of a great many mystery stories, but you'veprobably read his books."she nodded again, and again t. x. noticed the suppressed eagernessin her eyes.
"you're not ill or sickening for anything, are you?" he askedanxiously; "measles, or mumps or something?""don't be silly," she said; "go on and tell me something about mr.
lexman.""he's going to america," said t. x., "and before he goes he wantsto give a little lecture.""a lecture 7""it sounds rum, doesn't it, but that's just what he wants to do.""why is he doing it!" she asked.
t. x. made a gesture of despair.
"that is one of the mysteries which may never be revealed to me,except " he pursed his lips and looked thoughtfully at the girl.
"there are times," he said, "when there is a great struggle goingon inside a man between all the human and better part of him andthe baser professional part of him. one side of me wants to hearthis lecture of john lexman's very much, the other shrinks fromthe ordeal.""let us talk it over at lunch," she said practically, and carriedhim off.
