"You mean regarding what you shall do with me," and she arose to her feet. "It is time now I did something for myself."
"Wait, please," and I extended my hand, almost forcing her back upon the settee. "Let me say a word first before you decide to go. All I told you last night about myself is true, with one exception. I have money, and profitable work in view—see!" and I held before her the two bills.
She gazed at them with wide-open eyes, half convinced of some legerdemain.
"A thousand dollars," she exclaimed bewildered. "You! why, what does it all mean?"
"Yes, and nine thousand more promised, when I complete work that ought not to require to exceed two months. I was not without money in the restaurant, only I could not ask the cashier to change so large a bill. Sit down again, please, and let me tell you the story."
She did so, almost reluctantly, as though doubting my sanity, but I could note a change in the expression of her face as I proceeded. I told it slowly, carefully, pausing to explain each detail to her questioning, yet was not interrupted more than once or twice. Somehow, as I thus repeated the proposed scheme to another it did not appear quite as easy, or honorable, as when I faced it alone. However, I struggled through, painting the affair as well as I could, but without daring to propose her cooperation. Her wide-open eyes on my face gave me a thrill of apprehension I could not analyze.
"That 's the whole story," I ended, rather lamely.
"What do you think of it?"
"I—I hardly know," with slow hesitation. "It is very strange. Tell me the young man's name again."
"Henley—Philip Henley."