"Please try a smoke—and then tell me why you came for my address. The past is done with. I am only afraid of the future now."
Ellis drew the long black weed from the extended case, and deliberately prepared it for smoking. When it was burning to his satisfaction, he said:
"Do you know where the Hickses live?"
"Yes. Hemming is there to-night."
"So is Miss Hudson," remarked Ellis.
O'Rourke jumped from his chair, and grasped the other by both hands. Then he dashed into his bedroom and shouted for Smith. When he was half-dressed he remembered that he had forgotten to ask any questions, or even to be excused, while he changed his clothes. He looked into the sitting-room.
"Forgive my bad manners, Mr. Ellis. You see I'm in rather a rush," he said, gaily.
"Oh, certainly," exclaimed Ellis, starting up from a gloomy contemplation of the fire. He crossed over and smiled wanly at O'Rourke.
"If you don't mind," he said, "I wish you'd keep quiet about my part in—in this affair. She would despise me, you know—and I couldn't stand that."
"But I can tell her about to-night—about your kindness," suggested O'Rourke.