Mr. Wolfe looked at her for a few moments, then a smile spread over his face.
“I see,” he said.
“You see what?” demanded Shirley anxiously.
“The joke,” replied young Wolfe drily.
Shirley blushed, and hid her head in her hands.
“Have no fear,” said the young man, “I shall say nothing about it. If you care to tell me why you masqueraded, I shall be honored, but I shall not press you for an explanation; and I will never mention it.”
“Thank you,” said Shirley. “There is no reason why I cannot tell you, if you will promise to keep the secret.”
“I promise,” said he.
Shirley then gave him an account of her adventures and their cause. When she finished, young Wolfe looked at her in undisguised admiration.
“By Jove!” he exclaimed. “You are plucky. And you are doing all this for the boy you call Jimmy Smith?”