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 gro............