"All along my heart has cried out that you couldn't have done that, and hurt me so. _You couldn't_. I will never doubt my heart again. And you were so fine--so fine--to forgive me so easily." In the midst of his dizzying exaltation, he marveled at the ease with which she spoke her inmost feeling; he, the great apostle of reason and self-mastery, was much slower in recovering lost voice and control. It was some time before he would trust himself to speak, and even then the voice that he used was not recognizable as his. "So you are willing to do as much for my father's son as to--to--take his name for your own." "No, this is something that I am doing for myself. Your father was not perfect, but he was the only father that ever had a son whose name I would take for mine." A silence. "We can keep my father's house," he said, in time, "for--for--us to live in. You must give up the office. And I will find light remunerative work, which will leave at least part of my time free for my book." She gave a little laugh that was half a sob. "Perhaps--you could persuade that wealthy old lady--to get out a second edition of her _thesaurus!_" "I wish I could, though!" "You talk just like my little Doctor," she gasped--"my--own little Doctor.... I've got a little surprise for you--about remunerative work," she went on, "only I can't tell you now, because it's a secret. Promise that you won't make me tell you." He promised. Suddenly, without knowing why, she began to cry, her cheek against his breast. "You've had a sad life, little Doctor--a sad life. But I am going to make it all up to you--if you will show me the way." Presently she became aware that her telephone was ringing, and ringing as though it had been at it for some time. "Oh bother! They won't let us have even a little minute together after all these years. I suppose you must let me go--" She turned from the desk with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen upon a face. "It's for you!" "For me?" he echoed like a man in a dream. "That is--very strange." Strange, indeed! Outside, the dull world was wagging on as before, unaware that there had taken place in this enchanted room the most momentous event in history. He took the receiver from her with a left hand which trembled, and with his untrained right somehow caught and imprisoned both of hers. "Stand right by me," he begged hurriedly. Now he hoisted the receiver in the general direction of his ear, and said in what he doubtless thought was quite a businesslike manner: "Well?" "Mr. Queed? This is Mr. Hickok," said the incisive voice over the wire. "Well, what in the mischief are you doing up there?" "I'm--I'm--transacting some important business--with the Department," said Mr. Surface, and gave Sharlee's hands a desperate squeeze. "But my--" "Well, we're transacting some important business down here. Never should have found you but for Mr. Dayne's happening along. Did you know that West had resigned?"