"Still, my house, you know--and my friend. It's horrible!" In fact Mr. Early was shivering as though he had the ague. "It would drive me mad if any one should think--why, Mrs. Percival, think of the scandal of having him with me for months. Of course, if they catch him, I'll make him clear me at once. But, take it how you will, it is awful. The least I can expect is to be laughed at over the whole civilized world for being his dupe. I've always prided myself on my clean skirts. You think I'm raving, Mrs. Percival. I am nearly mad." Mr. Early suddenly leaped up with horror newly reborn in his eyes. "And I had just given him a large check. That is bound to look bad. There is no knowing how it may be misconstrued. Great heavens, what am I to do?" Lena flushed. "I'm afraid that check was for me," she said. "Mr. Early, I want to thank you--for--for being so generous to me; and when Dick comes back from North Dakota, he will repay you at once." Mr. Early caught himself up and remembered that he had a part to play in the present drama. "When Dick comes back," he said in a stupefied way, "what do you mean by 'when Dick comes back'? Isn't he here now? Why, he must be. It isn't an hour since he signed--" "Didn't you know he was away?" asked Lena timidly, her heart sinking, for Mr. Early's tone was sharp. "I certainly thought he signed a note made out to me. Was it another piece of the Swami's clever forgery?" "He--I--" cried poor Lena in confusion. "Oh, Mr. Early, do you call it forgery?--my own husband's name? Oh, I--oh, Mr. Early, what are you thinking?" At this moment she was the picture of confused innocence. Mr. Early looked at her and gave a long-drawn breath of astonishment. "I understand," he said at last, while Lena hung her head. "You wrote Dick's name for him, and he knows nothing about it. Well, let it go at that. It is a matter of no consequence. And, my dear Mrs. Percival, I would suggest that this matter be kept a secret between you and me. We'll never mention the debt again. I'm sure you will accept the rubies as a little gift from one of the most humble of your admirers." He bent forward and kissed her finger-tips in his most gallant manner. "Oh, Mr. Early, you are so good!" Lena's voice expressed manifest relief. The memory came back to her of what Ram Juna had said about the bond created by favor. It flashed into her mind, "He thinks it is sweet and innocent and womanly in me to do such a thing in ignorance. Dick would think so, too. How should I know?" "But suppose Dick shouldn't like to have me take them from you, such a magnificent gift?"