"Yes; we have a roof garden—some geraniums and things, and a hammock. It’s just a makeshift until we secure employment.... Is it possible that you are really James Edgerton? And didn’t you know that we had rented your apartment by the month?" He passed an uncertain hand over his eyes. "Will you let me sit down a moment and talk to you?" he said. "Please—of course. I _do_ beg your pardon, Mr. Edgerton.... You must understand how startling it was to look up and see a man standing there with two suit cases." He began to laugh; and after a moment she ventured to smile in an uncertain, bewildered way, and seated herself in a big velvet chair against the light. They sat looking at each other, lost in thought: he evidently absorbed in the problem before him; she, unquiet, waiting, the reflex of unhappy little perplexities setting her sensitive lips aquiver at moments. "You did rent this apartment from the janitor?" he said at length. "My sister and I—yes. Didn’t he have your permission?" "No.... But don’t worry.... I’ll fix it up somehow; we’ll arrange——" "It is perfectly horrid!" she exclaimed. "What in the world can you think of us? ... But we were quite innocent—it was merely chance. Isn’t it strange, Mr. Edgerton!—Silvette and I had walked and walked and walked, looking for some furnished apartment within our means which we might take by the month; and in Fifty-sixth Street we saw the sign, ’Apartment and Studio to let for the summer,’ and we inquired, and he let us have it for almost nothing.... And we never even knew that it belonged to _you_!" "To whom did you draw your checks for the rent?" "We were to pay the janitor." "Have you done so?" he asked sharply. "N-no. We arranged—not to pay—until we could afford it——" "I’m glad of that! Don’t you pay that scoundrel one penny. As for me, of course I couldn’t think of accepting——" "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" she said in pretty despair; "I’ve got to tell you everything now! Several humiliating things—circumstances—very tragic, Mr. Edgerton." "No; you need not tell me a single thing that is likely to distress you." "But I’ve _got_ to! You don’t understand. That wretched janitor has put us in a position from which there is absolutely no escape. Because I—we ought to go away instantly—b-but we—can’t!" "Not at all, Miss Tennant. I ought to leave you in possession, and I—I’m trying to think out how to—to do it." "How can we ask _you_ to do such a——" "You don’t ask; I’ve got to find some means—ways—expedients——" "But we _can’t_ turn you out of your own place!" "No; but I’ve got to turn myself out. If you’ll just let me think——" "I will—oh, I will, Mr. Edgerton; but please, _please_ let me explain the dreadful and humiliating conditions first, so that you won’t consider me absolutely shameless." "I don’t!" "You will unless I tell you—unless I find courage to tell you how it is with my sister and me." "I’d like to know, but you must not feel obliged to tell me."