She sighed and shook her head at him.
"Daddy," she murmured plaintively, "why will you run such risks? Even Mr. Cullen isn't an absolute idiot, you know, and there might have been some one else watching."
Mr. Parker nodded.
"You are quite right, my dear," he admitted. "To tell you the truth, Cullen was really a little smarter than usual this evening. However, there's always the luck, you know—our luck! If Mr. Walmsley had turned out a different sort of man—but, then, I knew he wouldn't."
She turned her head and looked at me. She had a trick of contracting the corners of her eyes just a little, which was absolutely bewitching.
"Will you tell me why you helped my father in this way, Mr. Walmsley?"
I returned her regard steadfastly.
"It never occurred to me," I said, "to do anything else—after I had recognized him."
She smiled a little. My speech was obviously sincere. I think from that moment she began to realize why I had occupied the little table, opposite to the one where she so often sat, with such unfailing regularity.
"What about a music hall?" Mr. Parker suggested. "I hear there's a good show on right across the street here. Have you any engagement for this evening, Mr. Walmsley?"