“I didn’t quite know at the time. It was simply to be with him, I suppose—just once. He’s in danger, and I wanted him to know I know it. It makes meeting him—at Cocker’s, since it’s that I want to stay on for—more interesting.”
“It makes it mighty interesting for me!” Mr. Mudge freely declared. “Yet he didn’t follow you?” he asked. “I would!”
“Yes, of course. That was the way you began, you know. You’re awfully inferior to him.”
“Well, my dear, you’re not inferior to anybody. You’ve got a cheek! What’s he in danger of?”
“Of being found out. He’s in love with a lady—and it isn’t right—and I’ve found him out.”
“That’ll be a look-out for me!” Mr. Mudge joked. “You mean she has a husband?”
“Never mind what she has! They’re in awful danger, but his is the worst, because he’s in danger from her too.”
“Like me from you—the woman I love? If he’s in the same funk as me—”
“He’s in a worse one. He’s not only afraid of the lady—he’s afraid of other things.”
Mr. Mudge selected another chocolate-cream. “Well, I’m only afraid of one! But how in the world can you help this party?”